For those seeking a low-maintenance conifer for a small garden, courtyard, or container gardening, please consider the Japanese Umbrella Pine 'Picola.' While most umbrella pines do well in containers, this variety's small compact nature makes it a natural, and with gains of only three to five inches per year, 'Picola' can stay in a pot for years. Short branches and short, thinner needles combined with a rich green coloring give it a full, lush look. Only four feet tall and about three feet wide at maturity, 'Picola' can be the focal point of a small courtyard or patio, and with no need for pruning.