Plant Library

Description:

A very miniature ball-shaped evergreen shrub which features fine, dusty-green needles and an extremely dense and compact habit of growth; a favorite for rock gardens and general detail use in the garden, quite durable and adaptable

Ornamental Features

Dwarf Black Spruce is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its interestingly mounded form. It has attractive grayish green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Dwarf Black Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Dwarf Black Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Dwarf Black Spruce will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.