Picea omorika Wodan - Serbian Spruce

Forming a lovely, chubby pyramid, Picea omorika 'Wodan' is a dwarf Serbian spruce, with very slow growth, possessing a unique personality. Its short and very dense branches resemble small, slightly upright, green-blue brushes, with silver reverse. Its silhouette integrates well in small gardens, enlivens large rockeries, works wonders in pots on the terrace, and lends itself well to the art of bonsai. It is a small, vigorous, undemanding and very hardy conifer which does not require pruning. It is content with well-drained, not-too-dry soil and a sunny exposure.

Picea omorika, also called Serbian spruce, is a plant from the pinaceae family native to Bosnia and Serbia. It is a rare species, endemic to the Drina Valley (in Western and Eastern Serbia). In its very harsh natural environment, this tree exceeds 30 m (98 ft 5 in) in height with a narrow pyramidal shape and pendulous branches. This conifer shows tolerance towards the soil and withstands pollution.

The 'Wodan' variety stands out for its unusual pyramidal shape, which gives it the appearance of a miniature Christmas tree. Initially, this bush forms a straight cone with irregular vegetation, then transforms over the years into a beautiful slightly thickened pyramid. Its growth is very slow, around 5 cm (2 in) per year. A 10-year-old specimen will not exceed 60 cm (23.6 in) in height and 45 cm (17.7 in) in diameter at the base. It produces thin and short, tight branches, slightly directed towards the sky. They are covered with relatively long, flattened and shiny, aromatic needles, arranged radially around the branches. They are bright blue-green on top and have 2 bright white bands underneath, giving the foliage a silvery sheen.

The dwarf Serbian spruce 'Wodan' deserves to be better known and planted in gardens. With its easy cultivation, personality, and very limited growth, it is a perfect plant for small gardens, rockeries, and terraces. It can also be cultivated as a bonsai. It thrives in many situations and adapts to various climates, as long as the soil is well-drained. This plant pairs well with large stones, geometric lines, and brickwork. It can be combined with prostrate (Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip) Rounded or columnar dwarf conifers. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes, and textures to flowers. These plants provide lasting structure to a flower bed, mark the pathways and border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They go well with heathers, shrubby salvias, or ground cover plants such as aubrietas and ceraistes, as well as light-flowered shrubs like gauras. The key is to play with volumes and colours.