Picea sitchensis Nana - Sitka Spruce

The Picea sitchensis 'Nana' is a dwarf variety of the Sitka spruce that has the advantage of developing a beautiful bristly ball with fine needles with shades of green-blue or silver-gray. Its globular, very compact habit and slow growth make it particularly suitable for ornamental use in a small rockery or near a small terrace in the city. Perfectly hardy, it is a low-maintenance conifer that thrives in sunny, moist but well-drained soil.

The Picea sitchensis, also known as Sitka spruce, is a coniferous tree from the pine family native to the west coast of the United States, named after the locality of Sitka in Alaska. It is a very hardy species, accustomed to cold and humid climates in summer. In its natural environment, which is often very harsh, this fast-growing tree can reach a height of over 40m (131 ft 2 in), with a pyramidal habit and whorled branches that widen with age. This spruce is one of the few that can be successfully transplanted at a young age. It is very tolerant of soil pH.

The 'Nana' variety differs from the wild species in its reduced growth and broadly ovoid to rounded habit. This bush has regular and particularly dense foliage, its growth is slow. A 10-year-old specimen will not exceed 80cm (31.5 in) in height and will have a base width of 60cm (23.6 in). Its thin and rigid branches are highly branched at their tips, very closely spaced, horizontal to slightly trailing. They are covered with fine, light gray-blue to green-blue, flat and stiff needles, arranged radially around the branches. The young shoots end in a slight twist that reveals the silver-white undersides of the needles. Mature specimens produce beautiful elongated cones measuring 6 to 10cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) in length, light brown in colour.

The dwarf Sitka spruce 'Nana' can be planted in gardens, even the smallest ones. With its easy cultivation in cool climates, its beautiful colour, and its very compact growth, it is a perfect plant for rockeries, flower beds, and terraces. This plant pairs well with large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools, and masonry structures. It can be associated with complementary grasses or prostrate (Juniperus Blue Pacific), globular (Picea abies Little Gem), or columnar (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel') dwarf conifers. The key is to play with volumes and colours.