Habit (CO7)
general - branched - bushy - leader and laterals - single leader
Dependent on species/cvs. the majority of conifers have distinct habits (plant shapes) both as juvenile plants for sale and in maturity. Typically conifers must be well furnished overall from above ground level with live shoots. Many evergreen conifers are often regularly pruned to create a more branched or bushier habit than would be typical. As a result of this treatment vigorous growing conifers are typically well furnished overall up to the last annual shoot and the whorl distances as well as the length of the last annual shoot must correspond to the total habit of the plant.
Upright growing forms (both compact and vigorous varieties) must have not more than one single dominant leading shoot. The exceptions to this are hedging and bushy species, e.g. Taxus spp., Thuja spp.
Conifer habit is defined by the following words:
- Branched
- Bushy