Species Norway spruce
compact, upright, brown stems with small, green, glossy, needle-like leaves

Norway spruce

Picea abies 'Gregoryana'

Also Known As - Norwegian Spruce
Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Gregoryana') is a decorative conifer often used in landscaping, as it is fairly easy to grow and care for. It has an upright cone-like shape with short needles that are dark green in color, as well as brown cones which can stay on for several years. Norway spruce grows in most soil types, in full sun to partial shade, and can reach heights up to 20 feet. It is also incredibly tolerant of the cold and can thrive in temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit. This hardy tree will give your landscape texture and a pop of color for many years.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun, Part sun/part shade

Soil:

Acidic, Well-drained

Cones:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Gregoryana') should be watered deeply but infrequently. Water the soil until it is wet several inches down, but allow it to dry out slightly between waterings. Allow the top of the soil to dry out enough before the next watering that the soil is not soggy. During the active growth season (spring and summer), water your Norway spruce once per week, adjusting the amount and frequency of watering based on weather conditions. During the winter months, water only if the soil is very dry.

sunlight

Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Gregoryana') prefers full sun and is best suited for planting in areas that receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. In areas with intense sunlight, dappled shade is recommended. The tree should be located in a spot that receives light exposure from both the east and west so it receives at least some sun from morning until nightfall. Additionally, plants that receive partial shade on hot days are less likely to suffer from sunscald.

pruning

Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Gregoryana') should be pruned twice a year: once in late winter or very early spring (before new growth begins) and again in late summer. When pruning in late winter or early spring, the goal is to remove any dead, diseased, or weak limbs as well as opening up the canopy to allow more light and air circulation. When pruning in late summer, the goal is to reduce the size of the tree but not to remove more than 20 - 30% of the overall growth. When removing larger branches, make sure to prune back to a lateral branch to prevent suckers from developing.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Picea abies 'Gregoryana' typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map