Conifers
Globe blue spruce
Picea pungens 'Globosa'
Globe blue spruce forms a dense, slow-growing mound of blue to blue-green needles that holds its color through winter. Plants sold as 'Globosa' are generally about 3–5 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide, although size and shape can vary; some become broader and more conical with age. By ten years, it may already reach about 5–6 feet across, so leave room for continued growth. Set this evergreen where its rounded form can stand clear of neighboring plants and air can move through the planting. Give it full sun, moist, well-drained soil, and regular water during dry summers.
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At a glance
- Mature height
- About 3–5 ft
- Mature spread
- About 4–6 ft
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 2–8
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
Its dense, rounded form makes a compact evergreen accent in a sunny bed. Leave enough open space for the shrub’s eventual width.
Where to plant
Choose a full-sun position with room around the branches for air circulation. Avoid crowding it against neighboring plants.
Through the seasons
Blue to blue-green needles provide year-round foliage. Growth is slow, and some plants develop a broader, more conical outline over time.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
In Southwest Washington, plan to water during dry summers. Watch for needle discoloration, needle drop, aphids, or galls; these problems are documented on spruce hosts.
Soil, drainage & water
Plant in moist, well-drained soil. Provide regular water during dry summers, especially while the shrub establishes.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Water young plants consistently while they establish. During dry summers, water regularly enough to keep the soil moist.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Rhizosphaera needle cast
Yellow mottling develops on needles in late summer, followed by brown or purplish needles and needle drop.
Help your plant thrive
Allow air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and remove fallen affected needles rather than composting them.
Spruce aphid
Yellow blotches and sometimes honeydew appear before needles turn yellow or brown and drop.
Help your plant thrive
Check needles for aphids from late fall into early spring. On a small plant, dislodge them with a strong stream of water.
Cooley spruce gall adelgid
Cone-shaped green or purplish galls form on new growth, then turn brown and woody; affected tips usually die.
Help your plant thrive
Keep spruce and Douglas fir as far apart as practical. Remove galls for appearance if needed, taking care not to spoil the shrub’s shape.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
A sculptural evergreen with hanging branches that can become an upright specimen or a low spreading feature, depending on its form and early training.
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Cupressina Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina'
Dense, ascending branches create a slender evergreen column, offering substantial height and winter structure where a full-width spruce would demand too much horizontal space.
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2016.04.12 18.49.07 DSC03409 - Flickr - andrey zharkikh.jpg
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA
CC BY 2.0 · Web-optimized
Weeping White Spruce
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
A narrow evergreen with an upright leader and dramatically hanging blue-green branches, suited to a cool, open planting space where its tall silhouette can develop.
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