Picea abies Petra - Norway Spruce

Picea abies 'Petra' is a dwarf variety of common spruce, forming an upright bush that becomes more rounded and spreading over time, with a very compact habit. Its short, stiff branches are covered with light blue-green to silver spring shoots, which create a nice contrast with the older, dark green foliage. Its winter buds are very ornamental and brown in colour. Its rounded and slightly tousled silhouette fits elegantly into flower beds, animates rockeries, or stands out in pots on the terrace. It has slow growth and is easy to grow in well-drained, neutral to acidic soil, even poor soil, tolerating waterlogged or dry soils. It even grows in shade.

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

The 'Petra' variety, derived from this species, is a dwarf form with a compact, rounded, and spreading habit. Its growth is very slow. After 10 years, it will measure about 20cm (8in) in height and 25cm (10in) in width. Eventually, it will reach a height of 30 to 50cm (12 to 20in) and a diameter of about 50 to 80cm (20 to 32in). It produces short and tightly packed branches densely covered with short and hard thorns arranged in a brush. The winter buds, reddish-brown in colour, are very decorative. Its young spring shoots are a very tender and bright green, then its foliage takes on a uniformly dark green colour. The root system of spruces is shallow and spreading, making them difficult to transplant when they are mature and particularly sensitive to wind.

The 'Petra' spruce, with its beautiful habit, very compact growth, low maintenance, and ease of cultivation, is a perfect plant for rockeries and terraces. It goes well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry works. It can be associated with columnar or upright dwarf conifers. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures to the dance of flowering. These plants with their reassuring permanence structurally and lastingly shape a flower bed, mark pathways, border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They go well with heathers or ground-cover plants such as aubrietas, Cerastiums, shrubby salvias, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.