Always a popular ingredient in floral arrangements, as well as being strikingly decorative in their own right, woody cones are a sure sign that winter is here. It actually takes two years for most varieties to reach maturity and not all cones are, in fact, woody.

The term “conifer”, from the Latin meaning “cone-bearing”, encompasses a wide variety of mostly evergreen trees, such as Pinus (pine), Picea (spruce), Abies (silver fir), Larix (larch), and Cedrus (cedar). The cones vary not only in shape and structure, but also in colour. Some, such as Himalayan hemlock, have wafer-thin scales that overlap to form a papery rosette; others, for example Abies procera 'Glauca', are brittle and barrel-like, while the woody varieties (including those of the Grey pine) emerge in several different shapes – conical, fluted, or like a pineapple. Many grow straight up like candles on a Christmas tree, but some hang like pendants and others grow in a spiral trail around the branches.

REPRODUCTION
Conifers have reproductive organs of both sexes, usually both on the same tree, in separate cones or strobili. Generally these appear in spring, and once pollen is dispersed from the male, the cone withers and dies, leaving the female conelet, once fertilised, to grow and mature into the seed-bearing cone with which we are more familiar. Some young cones are decorative in colour, ranging from fuchsia and indigo through to lime green, while the most mature are brown or tan.

As the cones mature, some fling open their scales and over a period of months or years release winged wind-borne seed, which may be edible. Other cones disintegrate entirely, dispersing in the wind to leave nothing behind but a woody peg.

COLLECTING CONES
Search for fallen cones on the wood or forest floor; you are more likely to find the durable woody cones than the brittle varieties. Shake out the seeds as you gather your finds, and clean and dry them carefully to prolong their decorative lives. You may wish to hunt out the longest, fattest, or smallest cones you can, or to gather as many different varieties as possible to build a year-round botanical display.

Cones can be collected at any time of year as they generally stay on the branch from two to ten years according to the variety, although you may well find richer pickings scattered after strong winds.

CONE-BEARING TREES FOR THE GARDEN
Most species conifers are large, but Dan Luscombe, propagator at Bedgebury National Pinetum, recommends some small or dwarf varieties for the garden:

• Pinus x schwerinii 'Wiethorst', a dwarf hybrid pine with long, slender cones.
• Pinus parviflora 'Negishi' (Japanese white pine) with brown-red cones that stay on the tree for six to seven years. Grows to 60cm with a spread of 40cm.
• Abies koreana 'Siberlocke' (Korean fir), violet/tan cones, grows to 75cm.
• Picea abies 'Acrocona' (Norway spruce), bright red cones, grows to 2m.
• Picea abies 'Pusch' (Dwarf spruce) with magenta pink cones on most of its branch tips; grows like a flat, round bun to 30cm tall with a spread of 60cm.
• Picea pungens 'Hermann Naue', pink cones, grows to 60cm.
• Pinus strobus 'Macopin' (Eastern white pine), with abundant light-brown cones; grows to 1m square.
• Abies procera 'Glauca', with barrel-shaped cones; garden cultivars grow to 3m, dwarf specimens to 60cm.

WHERE TO SEE CONIFERS
• Bedgebury National Pinetum, Park Lane, Goudhurst, Kent TN17 2SL, www.forestry.gov.uk/bedgebury.
• Diana's Grove, Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH18 5TL, www.blair-castle.co.uk.
• Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute PA20 9LR, www.mountstuart.com.

WHERE TO BUY CONIFERS
• Lime Cross Nursery, Herstmonceux, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 4RS, www.limecross.co.uk. A wide range of conifers.
• Kilworth Conifers, South Kilworth, near Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 6DX, www.kilworth-conifers.co.uk. Over 500 varieties.
• Kenwith Nursery, Blinsham, near Torrington, Beaford, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8NT, www.kenwithnursery.co.uk.
• Conifers by mail. Swanborough Conifers, Nursery Farm, Woodborough, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5PF, 01672 851111. Specialist in unusual conifers.

WORDS JACKY HOBBS
PHOTOGRAPHS MICHELLE GARRETT
JANUARY 2008