Red Tipped Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Rubra Spicata'
Height: 40 feet
Spread: 20 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3
Other Names: Norwegian Spruce
Description:
An artistic open tree with upswept branches, supporting pendulous branchlets with stunning red new growth; give adequate room for it to stand apart; a perfectly elegant way to define a landscape
Ornamental Features
Red Tipped Norway Spruce is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has rich green evergreen foliage which emerges red in spring. The needles remain green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Red Tipped Norway Spruce is an open evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Red Tipped Norway Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Vertical Accent
Planting & Growing
Red Tipped Norway Spruce will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.
