Picea abies Cranstonii - Norway Spruce

The Picea abies 'Cranstonii' is a selection of common spruce with an original habit. It is a medium-sized conifer with a broad, pyramidal, irregular, and loose habit due to its long ascending branches with few ramified trailing branches. It has a striking silhouette with beautiful evergreen foliage. Its picturesque architecture, partly transparent, is appreciated in parks or large gardens.

The 'Cranstonii' Spruce was selected from a seedling in the early 1840s by Cranston Nursery in Hereford, United Kingdom. The species, Picea abies, also known as Norway Spruce or Red Spruce, is an evergreen conifer belonging to the pinaceae family. It is native to Northern Europe, specifically Scandinavia. In its natural environment, it has a typically conical and pyramidal habit and can reach a height of 30 metres. This plant is traditionally used as a Christmas tree in Europe. It prefers well-drained and moist soils and is not afraid of very low temperatures.

The 'Cranstonii' cultivar forms a tree of 6 to 7 metres in height after 10 years, with a spread of 2 to 2.5 metres. Its growth rate is about 60 cm per year initially, then slows down over the years. Ultimately, it can reach 10 to 15 metres in height and 5 to 6 metres in spread at the base. An adult specimen shows thick interlaced branches at the base and irregular and sparse lateral vegetation: in the upper part of the tree, the branches are few ramified, long, spreading, ascending, and distant from each other, while the trailing branches are clearly visible. The young spring shoots of this spruce are tender and bright green, then the foliage darkens and becomes green-blue. Its small evergreen leaves are 3 cm long, thick, very prickly needles arranged in a brush-like fashion. The root system of spruces is shallow and running, making them difficult to transplant when mature and particularly sensitive to wind.

The Picea abies 'Cranstonii' is used as a specimen tree in a sufficiently large garden. Its picturesque silhouette works wonders when planted alone on a lawn, but also near a swimming pool, as it complements geometric lines and masonry structures well. The true architectural qualities of conifers naturally emerge in the design of a contemporary garden, which favours shapes, silhouettes, and textures. They pair well with mahonias, heathers, or tousled grasses with complementary temperaments. The key is to play with volumes and colours.