Picea glauca 'ECHINIFORMIS'

Echiniformis is a very slow growing variety of white spruce. It bears evergreen needles that are short, only about 7 mm long, they are blue-green and look great when there is a deep green background and dark brown mulch underneath. Being a dwarf plant it will fit even the smallest of gardens. 25 year old plants are some 50 cm tall and twice as wide. Pruning is not needed but can be done in early spring if you want to shape the plant or make a groundcover of it.

This spruce is not picky about soil type but hates extremes: too wet or too dry location will mean a slow death of the plant. And avoid too chalky soils. But grown in equally moist soil it will make a beautiful specimen plant or a nice feature in a small border. It is a great pot plant as it can withstand hard frost it can be placed outside in a container all year round. Hardy to about -40°C (USDA zone 3).

Last update 19-02-2011