Pinus sylvestris ‘Hillside Creeper’ Scots Pine

The ‘Hillside Creeper’ variety of Scots Pine is a ground-hugging, multi-stemmed, dwarf tree that is as tough, hardy, and adaptable as its species. Pinus sylvestris is native to Great Britain, northern Europe, and northern Asia. It has naturalized in much of the United States, where it is popular as an ornamental and Christmas tree. The prostrate cultivar of Scots Pine, ‘Hillside Creeper,’ was discovered as a seedling in 1970 at the Hillside Gardens in Lehighton, PA.

Seasonal Changes 

This vigorous, hardy little tree grows at a slow to intermediate rate of 6″ to 9″ per year when young and becomes 1.5′-2′ × 8′ in 10 years. Its growth rate slows as it ages and becomes layered rather than flat against the ground. Gray cones sit among the twisted blue-green needles on flaking orange-reddish-brown bark. As temperatures drop in the fall, the needles turn an attractive golden yellow-green, brightening up a cold-weather landscape. It is excellent in mass plantings as an erosion-control ground cover on banks and hillsides, over and around rocks and boulders, and as an artful touch growing over walls. It is perfect for rock gardens and grows well in city gardens since it tolerates urban pollution.

Care and Maintenance

‘Hillside Creeper’ grows best in full to partial sun. It does well in full sun in the colder regions of its 3 to 8 hardiness zone. However, in warmer areas, such as in Zone 8, it needs some shade in the afternoon to protect it from the hot sun. It prefers cooler summers and doesn’t do as well in the heat and humidity of the South. ‘Hillside Creeper’ grows best in moist, acidic, well-draining soil and adapts to various soil types — sand, loam, silt, or clay, as long as it is loosened with an amendment. However, it does not do well in wet, soggy soil or standing water. When grown in the ground, it requires average moisture. Water it at planting and then regularly for a year, especially during dry periods. It will be drought-resistant once established. When grown in containers, ‘Hillside Creeper’ will need to be watered more frequently – when the soil is dry 2″ down from the top of the pot.

Flowering trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted next to ‘Hillside Creeper’ to complement its color and texture. Companions like weeping beech or weeping cherry, hydrangeas, viburnums, shrubby cinquefoil, smoke tree, bridal wreath spiraea, and burning bush would be attractive planted nearby. Perennials, such as lavender, coreopsis, coneflower, astilbe, coral bells, stonecrops, salvia, achillea, asters, and hellebores, would complement the blue-green needles of ‘Hillside Creeper.’
This tree has the added benefit of being tolerant of deer and provides a good cover for birds.