Weekly Special Spruce

Pendulous branches adorned with densely clustered, short needles impart an elegant, cascading charm to the surroundings. Ideal as a striking focal point or when planted collectively to form a windbreak or screen. 

Light Requirement: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Mature Size:

• Height: 5' - 6'

• Width: 5'

Zone: 2

Selected for its resilience to harsh winter conditions, the sturdy, compact Picea glauca ‘North Star’ produces a densely branched, classic pyramid that is covered with medium green needles. Its moderate growth rate and ultimate, intermediate size, together with superior hardiness make this introduction from Iseli Nursery ideal for use in larger, more exposed spaces, mixed borders and beds.

Picea glauca ‘North Star’

**Online orders will be charged delivery fee for 10,15 & 25gal. trees.**

A large evergreen tree with dense, ascending, lateral branches from the ground up that form a broad pyramidal to conical crown. It varies from the typical white spruce in its denser, more compact habit and slower growth rate. It has a shallow, fiberous, wide spreading root system. The thin bark is ashy gray / brown.

Brown cylindrical cones appear in late July and may persist on the tree into January. It is better adapted than the white spruce. 

Grows best in acidic, moist loams with full sun, but adapts to a variety of conditions including shade, drought, hot and cold. It is flood intolerant and sensitive to soil compaction.

This tree has a slow growth rate at less than 12" per year.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 35' - 45'

• Width: 15' - 20'

Zone: 2

Photos courtesy of Jeffries Nursery

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 7'

Width: 3'

Picea pungens ‘Montgomery’ is an outstanding and industry standard silver-blue spruce that was originally part of the conifers accumulated by dedicated collector, Col. R.H. Montgomery. Prior to selling his Greenwich, Connecticut, estate, he donated his entire collection to the New York Botanical Garden, and this Picea pungens was named to honor him during the dedication of the Montgomery Conifer Collection in May, 1949. The original plant can still be seen there today. The slow-growing, dwarf spruce is globe-shaped when young, but it will eventually form a leader as it matures and develop an upright, broad shape that is wider than tall.

Garden Size: 8’H x 6’W

Dwarf: 3-6″/year

Broad Upright

Zone 2

Blue

Conifer

Full Sun

Lanham’s Beehive Spruce

The late Gary Lanham found this unusual, boldly textured, compact Norway Spruce in 1994 in Kentucky, a witch’s broom nearly 10′ up in a mature Picea abies. Intrigued by the interesting beehive form, Gary took it to Klein’s Nursery in Louisville, and from there, it made its way to Iseli Nursery. The needles of Picea abies ‘Lanham’s Beehive’ are longer and thicker than other dwarf cultivars and they have a slight glaucous tint. These features, combined with prominent, cinnamon colored stems and buds, create a dramatic effect.

Garden Size: 3’H x 4’W

Dwarf: 3-5″/year

Spreading

Zone 3

Green

Conifer

The flagship cultivar in the Iseli® Blues collection, Moonstone® is an Iseli exclusive improvement of the popular globe blue spruce. This well-mannered little gem has bright blue foliage and maintains a compact, rounded form from youth to maturity. The perfect size and shape for suburban gardens, you can rely on Moonstone® to add an easy-care pop of vivid blue to your landscape for years of enjoyment.

Picea pungens Moonstone® (‘INHWB’ PP34,321)

Upright branching habit with blue-green needles. Tight compact form. Tolerates a wide range of soils including heavy, wet and dry conditions.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Height: 33'

Width: 16'

Zone: 3

Photo and data courtesy of Aubin Nursery and Bellwyck Horticolor

Very short needles earned Picea pungens ‘Bonny Blue’ its name and fame. The tiny, narrow needles are bright blue and they are closely arranged with an angle that is acute to the stem. Slower growing than the species when young, the tree, selected by Roger Mackiness, Corbett, Oregon, matures into a large formal stature.

B&B  4'-5' tall

Garden Size: 20’H x 15’W

Large: 15+″/year 40' at maturity

Broad Upright

Zone 2

Blue

Conifer

Full Sun

‘Roundabout’ is a compact, green garden orb. Perhaps its color is better described as viridian, a sort of bluish green. Whatever color you perceive, it is a super hardy, symmetrical addition to the garden, like a spherical topiary that never needs shearing. Slow growing with needles in perfect scale to its small size, ‘Roundabout’ is a winner for today’s smaller landscapes. Loves full sun and well drained soil. ‘Roundabout’ was discovered at Iseli Nursery as a witch’s broom growing on Picea pungens ‘Green Spire’.

Picea pungens Iseli® ‘Roundabout’

The exciting and unique Picea pungens ‘Procumbens’ develops into a spreading, undulating ground cover. Performs best in a sunny location. Thrives in the coldest, harshest climates. Outstanding when allowed to wander among and over rocks and stone walls.

Mature Size: 2’H x 10’W

Zone 2

Weeping Norway Spruce

Our dark green, Picea abies ‘Pendula’ plants can be staked and trained into an outstanding upright specimen, or it can be allowed to grow as an undulating ground-cover that drapes over slopes and walls. Plant a row of several young P.a. ‘Pendula’s with stake and wire supports to train them into a living fence.

Garden Size: Varies with culture

Large: 12-15″/year

Weeping

Zone 3

Full Sun

The Limey Norway Spruce

Formally thought to be a seedling selection of Picea glauca, the originator of this exciting plant has informed us that ‘The Limey’ is truly of Norway Spruce origin.Fresh, new foliage emerges each spring from the buds of Picea abies ‘The Limey’ with a bright lemon-lime color. Short needles adorn open branching that will fill in with maturity. As the season progresses, the exposed topsides of the needles remain a pleasant yellow while the undersides and shaded interior foliage turn lime green creating a striking contrast. ‘The Limey’ thrives in moist, well-drained soil.

Garden Size: 15’H x 12’W

Intermediate: 6-12″/year

Broad Upright

Zone 3

Yellow

Conifer

Full Sun

An Iseli Introduction seedling selected from Picea abies ‘Rothenhausii’, this new dwarf cultivar has a prostrate habit that forms a low mounding shape with age. It can be grown as a slow growing ground cover or staked upright as a gentle weeper.  Delicate tiny green sprays of needles cover this very dainty specimen, which resembles cascading water that has been frozen in time. Great for containers or as a specimen plant for collectors. Truly a one of a kind.

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Mature Size:

• Height: 1.5'

• Width: 3'

Zone: 3

Photos courtesy of Iseli Nursery