Plant care & info

Family: Pinaceae

Genus: Picea (pie-SEE-a). Picea is the Latin word for spruce, derived from the word pix, the word for pitch.

Common: Spruce

40 species, mostly from colder regions of the northern hemisphere.

These evergreen coniferous trees and shrubs are often tall, narrow, and symmetrically shaped. Sharp, mostly square needles are held to branches by ‘pegs’ or little pockets that remain on the stem when needles fall.

Cones are mostly hanging. Many cultivated varieties exist, lending variations in size, color, and shape. Dwarf and miniature spruce are good selections to grow in containers. Roots are shallow and spreading, so transplanting is usually successful.

Prefers sun to part shade and moderately moist, well-drained soil—although clay soil is okay. Be mindful to keep trees moist during spring when they’re pushing new growth. During this time, they are particularly susceptible to damage and death if they are allowed to be too dry. Picea omorika (Serbian spruce) and Picea pungens (Colorado spruce) are more tolerant of dry soil conditions like those found in eastern Oregon.

Prune from mid-autumn through winter.

Be careful not to cut into bare wood (wood without any green attached). Spruce does not generate new growth from bare branches and pruning down too far will cause the branch to die.

Keep an eye out for reverting growth in cultivated varieties, especially in Alberta spruce. Reversion is the production of shoots that do not match the cultivated plant, for example, upright growth on a weeping plant. Prune reverting growth at its base, as soon as you notice it.

Alberta Spruce takes well to shearing and can often be found in nurseries trained and shaped into topiary forms like spirals and pom-poms. To maintain shape, prune yearly during mid-autumn thru winter.

Mites, aphids, and bagworms are the most common pests affecting spruce trees. Root rot and rust are common diseases.

EXPLORE MORE SPRUCE TREES

Picea abies: Norway Spruce

The magnificent Norway spruce populates much of Europe and is commonly used as a holiday tree. Over 150 cultivated varieties exist, including many with interesting shapes and smaller statues. Here are some of our favorites:

Picea abies ‘Cupressina’
‘Cupressina’ has an upright narrow shape that creates a strong vertical accent, perfect for planting at the corners of a tall house. Needles are dark green and branches are strong, withstanding heavy snow better than other narrow-growing conifers.

Grows fast, more than 12” per year to 10-12’ x 2’ in 10 years. Sun. Zone 3.

Picea abies ‘Little Gem’: Bird Nest Spruce
Very slow-growing dwarf spruce with tiny, dark green needles and short stiff branches. Resembles a thick pincushion. Grows 1-2” per year to 12-18” x 18-24” in 10 years. Sun, part shade. Zone 4.

Picea abies ‘Pendula’: Weeping Norway Spruce
Dark green needles on weeping branches. Often, one branch is selected to serve as a trunk and trained to grow upright, allowing the other branches to weep and skirt the ground. Without training, branches grow along the ground as a ground cover. Both are nice applications.

Grows more than 12” per year. Sun, part shade. Zone 3.

Picea glauca: White Spruce

White spruce grows up to the arctic tree line along the top of North America. It’s a tough plant that withstands heat, cold, drought, and crowding. Cultivated varieties range from commonly used Alberta spruce to impressive weeping shapes.

Picea glauca ‘Conica’: Dwarf Alberta Spruce
A very popular dwarf conifer with short green needles and a perfect cone shape. This is a nice selection for containers because it grows so slowly that it can remain in the same pot for years.

Grows 2-3’ x 10-12” in 10 years, and 6-7’x3-4′ when mature. Sun, Zone 4.

Picea glauca ‘Jean’s Dilly’
‘Jean’s Dilly’ grows even slower than ‘Conica’, about 1-3″/yr. and stays small. It’s a great choice for containers and rock gardens! There are many more garden worthy cultivars. ‘Rainbow’s End’ has creamy new growth, ‘Sander’s Blue’ has silvery blue needles. All grow in a dense pyramid shape. Zone 4.

Picea glauca ‘Densata’: Black Hills Spruce
Black Hills spruce is an upright, symmetrical pyramid with short dark needles. Native to the Black Hills of South Dakota, it is commonly used for a holiday tree in the mid-west.

Grows 6-12” per year, maturing at 20-40’ in 40-80 years. Sun. Zone 2.

Picea glauca ‘Pendula’: Weeping White Spruce
Discovered in France in 1867, this lovely tree was nearly lost to cultivation—but thanks to Iseli Nursery, it was saved and reintroduced in 1982.

This outstanding specimen has blue-green needles on a strong central leader. Branches weep strictly downward and spread when they hit the ground, forming a round skirt.

Grows 6-12” per year, and 6-10’ x 2-3’ in 10 years. Sun. Zone 2.

Picea omorika: Serbian Spruce

Native to the upper Drina River Valley in Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. Flat needles are two-toned (dark green above and silvery white below) and show both colors in some cultivars. Cones are small and red-brown when ripe. In the forest, it has a slender pyramid shape resembling that of a Douglas fir, but cultivated varieties are smaller in stature.

Picea omorika ‘Nana’: Dwarf Serbian Spruce
A dwarf globe shaped shrub with two-toned needles (green on top and white beneath) that lend a silvery cast to the plant.

Grows to 3’ x 3’ in 10 years and 8-10’ given time. Sun. Zone 4.

Picea omorika ‘Pendula’: Weeping Serbian Spruce
This beautiful tree is a perfect choice for a focal point in any garden. Green and silver needles on an upright, narrow spire with sweeping branches that curl up at the tips. Forms a lovely skirt around the base of the tree.

Grows 12” per year and 12’ x 4’ in 10 years. Sun. Zone 5.

Picea orientalis: Caucasus or Oriental Spruce

Native to mountainous parts of Caucasus, the border area between Europe and Asia. Needles are short and grow flat against the branches, creating and interesting texture. Forest trees are quite tall and some of the cultivated varieties are as well, but dwarf and miniature varieties are also available.

Picea orientalis ‘Aureospicata’
Bright yellow, new spring growth turns dark green in summer heat. Needles are short and sit close to slender branches. It forms a narrow, pyramidal shape with a strong central leader and graceful arching side branches.

Grows about 12” per year and 12-15’ x 6-8’ in 10 years (possibly much larger given time). Sun. Zone 4.

Picea orientalis ‘Shadow’s Broom’
Produces short, dark green needles, stiff ascending branches, and slow growth. In youth, the shape is nest-like with an indention in the center. Over time it will fill out to a mounded shape.

Dwarfs grow 3-6” per year and 2-3’ x 3-4’ in 10 years. Sun. Zone 4.

Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’
Yellow and green needles look like they are frosted with lemon icing. Color holds year-round but is brighter in spring.

Grows in an upright pyramidal shape similar to ‘Aureospicata’. Gold leaves can burn in the hottest part of summer, so afternoon shade is preferable. Zone 4.

Picea orientalis ‘Tom Thumb’
As the name suggests, ‘Tom Thumb’ is a miniature and one of our favorites! Short gold needles lie flat against short stubby branches. It grows about 1″ per year, forming a little mound slightly wider than tall. Grows 1″ per year, maturing at 12″ x 18″. Sun. Zone 4.

Picea pungens: Colorado Spruce

Colorado spruce are known for their bright powdery blue needles and have been grown in cultivation for decades. All are extremely cold hardy to 50°F.

Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’
Bright blue needles and a strong, wide, upright pyramidal shape.

Grows about 15″ per year, maturing at 25’x15′. Sun. Zone 2.

Picea pungens ‘Procumbens’
A weeping or prostrate form with irregular branching. It looks beautiful draping over rocks!

Grows 1’ tall x 8’ wide in 10 years. Sun. Zone 2.

Picea pungens ‘RH Montgomery’
Dwarf, globe-shaped shrubs grow 3-6” per year, reaching 4’x3’ in 10 years. Full sun. Zone 2.

Picea sitchensis: Sitka Spruce

Native to the Pacific Northwest, along the coast from Alaska to California. Sharp, glossy green needles have white reverse. Bark is smooth and gray, cones are 2-4” long. Habit is upright and pyramidal, with irregular slender branches that sweep upward at the tips.

Grows 12” or more per year, often reaching 40-60’ tall. Given time, it can grow over 150’ tall.

It prefers sun to part shade, and loves the moist, foggy air along the coast line. Hardiness information varies. Some sources say zone 7, others zone 5. Both should be fine in Portland and along the coast.

Picea sitchensis ‘Papoose’
A lovely little dwarf with stiff, two-toned needles that cast a shimmery glow. Grows in a globe shape when young. Over time, it will eventually produce a leader and form a squatty cone shape.

Growth is very slow, perhaps 3” per year—reaching 2-3’ in 10 years. Sun to part shade. Zone 5.

Picea: Spruce Tree

Plant care & info