The spruce is one of the conifers that we can enjoy in a medium or large garden. It can reach an impressive height, but its needles (leaves) are of a very decorative green color, and also, its crown is dense which makes it look even more beautiful.
So if you want to know more about this magnificent conifer, then I will explain everything you need to know about it.
Origin and characteristics
Our protagonist is an evergreen conifer native to the mountains of northern and central Europe. Its scientific name is Picea abies, but its synonyms Abies excelsa, Pinus picea and Picea excelsa are still used quite frequently. It is popularly known as spruce, Christmas tree, false fir, and Norway spruce.
Reaches a height of 50-60 meters, and develops a columnar trunk with greyish or somewhat reddish bark that is totally hidden by the leaves. These are acicular, 10-25mm long, glossy dark green, and spirally attached.
The female strobili are pendulous or subpatent and mature after one year; the male ones are ovate-elliptical. The fruits are hanging pines oval in shape and measuring 10-16cm, brown in color when ripe.
What varieties are there?
There are different varieties, the following being the most popular:
- clandrassiliana: it has a rounded bearing, wider than it is tall. It does not exceed 2 meters in height.
- Gregoryan: it is a variety that does not usually exceed one meter in height, and has a light green globular shape.
- Nidiformis: develops a wide and open crown. It reaches a height of 2,5-3 meters.
What are their cares?
If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:
- Location: outdoors, in full sun or in semi-shade.
- Earth: fertile, with good drainage.
- Irrigation: 3-4 times a week in summer, and every 4-5 days the rest of the year.
- Subscriber: in spring and summer it is recommended to fertilize once a month with organic fertilizers such as guano, compost or mulch.
- Multiplication: by seeds in autumn. They will germinate in spring.
- Rusticity: withstands cold and frosts down to -12ºC.
As we have seen, the spruce is a very interesting conifer, especially for rustic gardens. What do you think?
Hello Monica.
Thanks for the information, I am passionate about plants.
A question, could you tell me if this Red Spruce (Picea abies) supports high temperatures up to 40 degrees inclusive?
Thanks a lot…!!
Hello Beloved.
We are glad that you like the blog.
No, the spruce is for temperate climates, up to 30ºC and as long as it has water.
A greeting.