Unique Features: The Rostrata Mugo pine is a sub species in the broadly variable Mugo pine family.  Without going into a lot of convoluted detail it is a variety of Swiss Mountain pine with more tendency to produce a single a leader.  It can be consider a large shrub or smaller tree.  It is grown from seed and this accounts for the variability in size and width.  The needle length can be an indicator of the growth rate and potential size of the plant; longer needles are more indicative of a faster growth rate and therefore a larger size over time.  This tree is durable enough to serve as a wind break and will survive in most conditions except wet soil.  Because of its variability it is best used in an informal setting.