picea
( pie - SEE - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationKnown commonly as Spruce, this genus of evergreen trees needs full sun to light shade and little to moderate water. The cones produced by these trees will attract birds to your garden. They are pyramid-shaped trees with cones that hang down from branches (instead of sitting on top of them, as they do on Fir trees). Needles are varying shades of green and grey, and these trees generally grow best where summers are cool or mild. Spruce trees can be grown in containers for years before being planted in the ground; They can be used in this way as living Christmas Trees.
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picea Species and Varietals
The best growing zones for Spruce trees vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
Best in zones A2, A3, 1-6, and 14-17. These trees are native to southern Europe and quickly reach 100-150 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Needles are deep green and many dwarf, garden-sized varieties are available, including those listed below.
'Nidiformis' (Bird's Nest Spruce)
3-5 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide, with a dense habit that varies a bit in shape and structure. |
'Pendula'
Good groundcover variety that reaches 1.5 feet tall and 10 feet wide. Great cascading down rocks or walls, and can be staked and grown as a short, weeping tree. |
'Pusch'
To 2 feet tall and 4 feet wide, this variety produces many cones that are red when new and age to brown. A handsome, mound-forming plant. |
Picea breweriana (Brewer's Weeping Spruce) This species is best in zones 2b-7 and 14-17 and is native to the Siskiyou Mountains in California and Oregon. These trees can reach between 30 and 50 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide in garden settings (they can grow to be much larger in their natural habitat). When young, these trees are stiff and upright, and at maturity have long vertical branches with drooping foliage. Needles are deep green on top and greyish underneath, and these trees are more tender than other species of Spruce. They require regular water and cool temperatures to perform well. |
Picea engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce) Best in zones A2, A3, 1-7, 10, and 14-17 and native from British Columbia south to Oregon and Northern California and east to the Rocky Mountains. These trees reach 60-130 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide, and have a pyramid shape to them. Needles are blue-green. A popularly-grown lawn tree in the Rocky Mountain area. |
Picea glauca (White Spruce)
This species is best in zones A1-A3, 1-7 and 14-17. These trees are native to Canada and the northern United States, and form a densely-foliaged tree that reaches 60-70 feet tall and 10-12 feet tall.
This species is best in zones A1-A3, 1-7 and 14-17. These trees are native to Canada and the northern United States, and form a densely-foliaged tree that reaches 60-70 feet tall and 10-12 feet tall.
'Blue Wonder'
Slow grower, forming a compact narrow cone that reaches just 6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. Foliage is grey-blue. |
'Densata' (Black Hills Spruce)
Best in zones A2, A3, and 1-6, this variety forms a dense pyramid 20-25 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide (this size takes about 35 years to achieve). |
'Jean's Dilly'
Pyramid-shaped tree to 4-5 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide with twisted needles. |
Picea glauca albertiana 'Conica' (Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Dwarf White Spruce) This species is best in zones A2, A3, 1-7 and 14-17 and forms a compact, bushy shrub 6-8 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide, with bright green new foliage that matures to greyish-green. Shelter from winds and strong, reflected sunlight. This variety is commonly grown as a container plant. |
Picea omorika (Serbian Spruce) Best in zones 2b-7 and 14-17, this native of southeastern Europe reacahes 50-60 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. Needles are dark green with white undersides. Variety 'Nana' reaches 3-4 feet tall and just as wide, with closely spaced needles. 'Pendula Bruns' reaches 6-8 feet tall and 2 feet wide with twisting, pendulous branches. Finally, 'Pimoko' is a mound-forming variety reaching 1.5 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide with blue-green needles. |
Picea orientalis (Oriental Spruce) This species grows well in zones 2b-7 and 14-17, and is native to the Caucasus and Asia Minor. It has a cone-shape, and very short needles. Oriental Spruce tops out around 50-60 feet tall and 20 feet wide, and can tolerate poor soil as long as it is well-draining. Protect from drying winds. Varieties include 'Aurea', (with chartreuse new growth), 'Aureospicata' (with chartreuse young foliage), and 'Skylands' (with creamy gold leaves that persist year-round). |
Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce)
This species is native to zones A2, A3, 1-10 and 14-17. These trees are native to the Rocky Mountains, and reach 30-60 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide, with a horizontal branching pattern and a pyramid shape. Needle color varies depending on the varietal grown; for more information see the listings below.
This species is native to zones A2, A3, 1-10 and 14-17. These trees are native to the Rocky Mountains, and reach 30-60 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide, with a horizontal branching pattern and a pyramid shape. Needle color varies depending on the varietal grown; for more information see the listings below.
'Fat Albert'
Formal-looking tree with a broad shape, reaching 15-20 feet tall and 10-12 feet wide. |
'Hoopsii'
Dense, cone-shaped tree with spreading branches. |
'Koster'
Blue-grey foliage on a conical tree. |
'Moerheimii'
Blue-grey foliage with a compact habit, with longer, thicker needles than other varieties. |
'Montgomery'
Slow-growing dwarf variety that forms a silver-blue cone 5 feet tall and just as wide. |
'Pendula' ('Glauca Pendula')
(Weeping Blue Spruce) Gray-blue foliaged plant with weeping branchlets that can be used as groundcover or staked up to form a small tree. |
Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce) Grows well in zones A2, A3, 4-6 and 14-17, and is native to Alaska down to California. This species is the largest of all Spruces, and reaches 80-160 feet tall and 20-40 feet wide (larger in their natural habitat). Needles are dark green on top, powder blue underneath, and are borne on horizontal branches. This species needs moisture in both the atmosphere and soil to perform well. Sensitive to Cooley Spruce Gall. Variety 'Tenas' (also called 'Papoose') reaches 4-5 feet tall and just as wide. |
Caring for and pruning Name Trees
Propagation
Problems and Pests
Gallery
Videos
A video all about growing camellias successfully
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Propagating camellias
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 504 - 505, Picea
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