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A collection of potted dwarf conifers including juniper, spruce, and yew varieties displayed together at a nursery.

One plant. The whole view.

Specimen & Unique Plants

Weeping cherries and redbuds, corkscrew branches, variegated leaves and rare blue conifers. Plants with a shape worth standing alone, chosen for the one spot in your yard everyone looks at.

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The plants people ask about.

Weeping cherries and redbuds, twisted branches, variegated leaves and rare conifers. One standout plant for your yard's focal point.

Find My Specimen Plant
  •

    Twisty Baby Black Locust Tree

    Robinia pseudoacacia 'Twisty Baby'

    (2)
    $12271

  • Snow Fountain® Weeping Cherry Tree

    Prunus x 'Snow Fountain'

    50% off
    (40)
    $6894 $13787

  • Autumn Gold Ginkgo Tree

    Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold'

    (19)
    $9983

  • Weeping French Pussy Willow

    Salix caprea 'Pendula'

    (3)
    From $3499

  • Lavender Twist® Weeping Redbud

    Cercis canadensis 'Lavender Twist'

    (70)
    From $8999

  • Horstmann Blue Atlas Cedar

    Cedrus atlantica 'Horstmann'

    $12999

  • Ginkgo Biloba (Maidenhair Tree)

    Ginkgo biloba

    (74)
    $12283

  • Blue Arrow Juniper Tree

    Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow'

    (3)
    $2998

Built to stand alone

A specimen plant goes by itself, out in the open, where its shape is the whole point. It might weep to the ground, twist in corkscrews, carry cream-edged leaves or hold a blue no other evergreen in the yard can match. Most yards have room for one or two. This collection is where you find them.

Shop Specimen Plants
Tenzan Dwarf Japanese Cedar in a black nursery quart container, showing its dense, compact mounding foliage on concrete.

The Nature Hills Advantage

Plant Sentry™ Protected: Every plant is inspected for invasive pests and diseases before shipment, ensuring your local ecosystem stays safe.

Nursery Direct: No middlemen. No big-box garden center delays. Just fresh plants from our field to your front porch.

Warranty Options: Every plant comes with our standard Nature Hills warranty. Optional protection can be purchased for total peace of mind.

Shop Specimen Plants
Close-up of Weeping Blue Alaskan Cedar foliage showing feathery blue-green sprays tied to a bamboo support stake.

Weeping trees
Close-up of yellow corylus flowers on Harry Lauder's Walking Stick blooming in late winter to early spring.

Twisted branches
Close-up of Gold Drift Weeping Norway Spruce foliage showing bright yellow-green new needles against darker mature growth.

Rare conifers
Close-up of ginkgo biloba leaves showing their distinctive fan-shaped form and parallel veining on a slender branch.

Living fossils
Close-up of Blue Weeping Colorado Spruce showing silvery-blue needle clusters on drooping branches.

Pick the spot first

How to choose

Specimen plants compete with each other. Put two weepers in the same view and neither one stands out. So start with the place, then find the one plant that belongs there.

  • The end of a walk: a weeping cherry or redbud gives the path somewhere to arrive.
  • The kitchen window: twisted branches and coral bark give you something to look at all winter.
  • The turn of a bed: a blue or gold conifer anchors the corner year-round.
Shop Specimen Plants

Customer Reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a specimen plant?

A plant set by itself as a focal point, chosen for an unusual shape, branch or leaf color. Weeping, twisted, variegated and rare conifer forms are the most common.

How tall will a weeping tree get?

Most weeping trees are trained up a stake or grafted onto an upright trunk, and their height depends on that stake or trunk. Two trees of the same variety can differ by several feet, so check the mature height listed on each plant.

Where should I plant a variegated tree?

Morning sun with afternoon shade. The pale parts of the leaf can scorch in hot afternoon sun and fade toward green in deep shade.

Why are the conifers slow growing?

Slow growth is what keeps their shape so distinctive. It also means the size you plant is close to what you'll see for the next few years, so buy the largest size that fits your budget.

Can I plant more than one?

Yes, just not more than one type in the same view. Give each specimen its own spot so it isn't competing with another.

What if my plant doesn't make it?

Every plant is covered by our free 45-day Growing & Glowing Guarantee, and fall deliveries are covered through May 1.

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