Picea abies Aarburgh - Norway Spruce

With its picturesque silhouette, Picea abies 'Aarburgh' is a vigorous spruce tree forming a fascinating small tree with a very weeping and irregular habit. It produces long arched shoots that are erect and then trailing, covered in bright green needles that seem to hesitate between the sky and the ground. This conifer, as hardy as it is romantic, grows quickly, reaching a height of 5 to 6m (16 to 20ft) with a spread of 2 to 3m (7 to 10ft). It can be planted in isolation, against a clear sky, to adorn a large slope, or in the centre of a bed. It thrives in sunlight and prefers a fresh, well-drained soil with minimal limestone.

Picea abies, also known as Norway spruce or red spruce, is an evergreen conifer belonging to the pine family, native to northern Europe, specifically Scandinavia. In its natural environment, it has a typically conical and pyramidal habit and can reach a height of 30m (98ft) or more in Eastern Europe. This species is traditionally used as a Christmas tree in Europe. It prefers well-drained and fresh soils and is not afraid of very low temperatures.

The 'Aarburgh' variety, derived from this species, is an original form with a very irregular weeping habit, introduced in Switzerland in 1965. After a few years, it forms a small mysterious and tormented tree, rather upright, but its vegetation tends to meander. Its growth is rapid, growing 8 to 15cm (3 to 6in) per year. It consists of irregular, tightly clustered, and trailing branches, from which strongly weeping lateral branches emerge. Over time, the lowest branches flexibly straighten, further enhancing the fairy-like and hairy appearance of its silhouette. Its foliage is a bright and vivid green. Its small leaves are rigid needles, very prickly, arranged all around the branches in a 'brush' shape. Initially erect, the female cones located at the terminal positions resemble reddish cigars, then they become pendant. The male pollen sacs appear on the branches of the previous year, they have an oval spindle shape and are yellow-orange. The root system of spruces is superficial and spreading, making them difficult to transplant when they are mature and particularly sensitive to wind.

The weeping 'Aarburgh' spruce, with its exceptional ornamental qualities and ease of cultivation, deserves to be planted more often. Its somewhat blurred ghostly silhouette seems animated, emerging unexpectedly and standing out admirably against a clear sky. It can be adopted without reservation on a large slope, isolated on a lawn, or near a swimming pool, as it matches well with geometric lines and masonry structures. It can also be installed near a water feature, overlooking it, to engulf a rocky scree. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally assert themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which favours the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants with their reassuring permanence structurally enhance beds, mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They also pair well with Mahonias, heathers, or tousled grasses with highly complementary temperaments. The key is to play with volumes and colours.