Picea glauca var.densata Cys Wonder - White Spruce

Picea glauca var.densata 'Cy's Wonder' is a dwarf form of White Spruce. Over time, it develops an exceptionally compact and dense conical and rounded habit, similar to a miniature Christmas tree. Its very tight branches are short and stiff, giving the plant a slightly irregular growth. Its medium green foliage is composed of fine, short, tight needles. Slow-growing, it is perfectly suited for rock gardens, flower beds, and pots. It is a small, undemanding and highly adaptable conifer, in well-drained soil.

Picea glauca, also known as White Spruce, Canadian Spruce or Glauca Spruce, is an evergreen conifer belonging to the Pinaceae family, native to Canada. In its natural environment, it grows slowly, usually with a conical or pyramidal habit 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 'Cy's Wonder' variety, derived from this species, is a dwarf form with a compact, conical and rounded habit, resembling the 'Conica' variety, but with less regular growth. Its growth is just as slow, averaging 30cm (12in) in all directions by the age of 10. Very old specimens can reach 2.5m (8ft) in all directions, sometimes more in cool and humid climates. It produces short and tight branches, slightly upright, covered with short and quadrangular needles arranged in brushes, which are very sharp and aromatic (acrid resin smell). They are medium green, covered with a whitish wax. Its root system is shallow, highly branched, and creeping, which makes it difficult to transplant when mature and particularly sensitive to wind.

With its compact habit, limited growth, undemanding nature, and easy cultivation, it is perfect for rockeries, terraces, or for isolated planting. It thrives in many situations, under various climates, as long as the soil is moist, well-drained, and not too chalky. This plant blends well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry works. It can be planted with dwarf conifers with a columnar, upright, prostrate (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), or globose habit (Picea glauca 'Alberta Globe'). The architectural qualities of conifers naturally suit the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the fleeting beauty of flowers. With their reassuring permanence, these plants durably structure a bed. They can mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They blend 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.