Picea glauca Piccolo - White Spruce

Picea glauca 'Piccolo' is a dwarf variety of white spruce forming a delightful small bush with a conical habit. Its dense green foliage is composed of short and erect needles. Its very slow growth rate makes it suitable for rock gardens, provided that the soil retains some moisture, as it does not tolerate drought. It will also thrive in Japanese or contemporary gardens, where its well-defined sculptural shape will be a real attraction. 

Picea glauca, also known as White Spruce, Canadian Spruce or Glauca Spruce, is an evergreen conifer native to Canada. This species belongs to the Pinaceae family, like Cedars, Firs, Pines, or Larches. In its natural environment, it grows slowly and has a fairly variable habit depending on its habitat, but is usually conical or pyramidal with a broad base. This tree can reach a height of 25m (82ft). This species is traditionally used for paper production. It can live for many years (200 years or more).

The 'Piccolo' variety, derived from this species, is a dwarf form with a compact, conical habit. Its growth is very slow; it will reach about 1m (3ft) in height with a spread of 60cm (24in) by the age of 10 years, and will continue to grow to around 1.5m (5ft), or slightly more. It produces short and tightly packed branches, covered with quadrangular spines arranged in a brush-like manner, which are very short and sharp. Its naturally architectural shape requires no pruning, unless you want to achieve perfection. It naturally forms a well-shaped green cone. The root system of white spruces is shallow, highly branched, and spreading, making them difficult to transplant when mature, and particularly sensitive to wind (for larger specimens).

Extremely hardy, this small spruce grows in acidic to neutral soil, retaining some moisture but well-drained.

With its attractive conical habit, compact growth, undemanding nature, and ease of cultivation, it is perfect for rock gardens and terrace pots. In the latter case, regular watering will be necessary, especially in summer, as container conditions are more challenging than in the ground. In the ground, it thrives in various situations, as long as the soil is well-drained and not too chalky. This conical plant pairs well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry works, and it will be at home in contemporary gardens, where its structural nature will be highlighted. It can be planted with columnar or globose dwarf conifers, such as the cute Pinus mugo 'Picobello', the mountain dwarf pine with a hemispherical habit, or create a nice contrast of colours with Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' with its blue-silver foliage, or with the sculptural Platycladus orientalis 'Aurea Nana', the golden Oriental Arborvitae.