Pinus parviflora ‘Ogon-janome’ is one of the most striking and sought-after variegated pines available in the nursery trade. This cultivar’s form is that of a broadly upright, shrubby tree with distinct yellow banding on its soft blue green needles in bundles of five. Annual expected growth is 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) per year producing a small tree 5-6 feet tall by 6 feet wide after 10 years. Of course the size and shape of an individual specimen can be greatly affected by annual candle pruning and shearing. It should be noted that Ogon is Japanese for gold or golden and although janome translates directly into “snake eye,” it is also used colloquially is “bull’s eye” making Golden Bull’s Eye Pine a more fitting common name.
