2/27/11 WHITE SPRUCE, BIG AND LITTLE

TYPICAL WHITE SPRUCE

DWARF WHITE SPRUCE

Sunday, 9:00 AM.  10 degrees, up from 5 degrees earlier. Wind SSW, light. The sky is overcast but trying to clear. It is another cold, gray day.  We could use some sunshine.
    Speaking of conifer growth rates and dwarf forms (see last Friday’s blog) and putting politics aside for a bit, a rather amazing dwarf conifer, very common and readily available, is the dwarf white spruce, Picea glauca ‘Conica’, which at maturity is perhaps 12’ in height, compared to the species, which can grow to 50’ and more, even in “captivity.” It tends to be rather ample around the middle, like yours truly, but grows only a few inches per year. I like it in the herb garden or other very constrained places.
     Dwarf conifers are increasingly popular, and in Europe’s often diminutive home landscapes are particularly so.  Creating a miniature forest with dwarf conifers can be a very artistic endeavor, rather like a bonsai collection but a lot less trouble. The needles OF 'Conica' are so dense that red spider mites can be a problem in hot weather, and without snow cover or protection needles can winter burn.