Picea orientalis Barnes - Caucasian Spruce

Forming a lovely small round and spreading bush, with dense dark green foliage, Picea orientalis 'Barnes' is a dwarf variety of Oriental spruce. It shows a very slow growth, which slows down even more over the years. Its short and very dense branches resemble small slightly erect brushes, with a pretty light green colour in spring that darkens as the seasons progress. Its round and compact silhouette integrates well in small gardens, enlivens large rockeries, and works wonders in pots on the terrace. It is a vigorous and very hardy small conifer, low-maintenance and undemanding. It thrives in any well-drained but not too dry soil, and prefers a sunny exposure.

Picea orientalis, also known as Oriental spruce, is an evergreen conifer from the pine family, native to northeastern Turkey and the Caucasus. In its natural habitat, this large pyramidal tree reaching 30 metres (98 feet) in height grows both in humus-rich soil of mixed or evergreen forests, and on rocky slopes and cliffs along the Black Sea coast.

'Barnes' is an old cultivar that has made its way into parks and gardens on its own, and has only recently been officially recognized and registered. It stands out with its round and spreading habit that evokes a bird's nest, and its dark green and shiny foliage. Its growth is slow in the first years, around 7.5 to 10cm (3 to 4in) per year, and then it slows down even more, so that a 20-year-old specimen will not exceed 1.30m (4ft) in height and 2.40m (8ft) in diameter. It produces flexible and slightly trailing branches, quite short and very tight. They are covered with very short needles, diamond-shaped in section, shiny, radially arranged and very densely packed around the branches. They are shiny dark green on top and have 2 very discreet white bands underneath. The chamois-coloured buds release bright light green young shoots in spring that brighten up the old foliage.

The Oriental spruce 'Barnes' is a reliable choice and will find its place in all gardens, even the smallest ones. With its easy cultivation, its presence and very limited development, it is a perfect plant for small spaces, large rockeries, and terraces. It thrives in many situations and adapts to various climates, as long as the soil is well-drained. It can be adopted without reservation in a large embankment, among rocks, above a wall or ledge, or near a swimming pool, as it blends well with geometric lines and masonry structures. The graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants with their reassuring permanence provide lasting structure to a flower bed, mark pathways, border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They pair well with heathers, shrubby salvias, or ground-cover plants such as aubrietas and Cerastes, as well as with light-flowering shrubs like Gauras. The key is to play with volumes and colours.