Flower Foundation Heritage

Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies 'Pendula') Is one of my favorite evergreens because of the artistic natural look. It is a grafted shrub that can not be grown from seeds. The new foliage comes out light green and can grow up to a 1 ½- feet long in good conditions but usually only grows about 8 inches and then turns into a deep dark green once it hardens off. The average height is about 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, but if you like you can train it to grow up to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. Because of the abnormal growth habit you will never see two of them that look the same. I have been looking for large ones for years and have never seen one this size due to the slow growth. The cones are an interesting feature with Weeping Norway Spruce, they start out as a beautiful purple and they get about 1 ½- inches, and then they turn brown and look like a normal cone. The graceful weeping branches will weep down the to become more of a ground cover or can be staked up to become an upright. Weeping Norway Spruce can be trained to almost any shape you like, including an arch weeping only on one side to over hang a wall, lawn, or a pond. You can train Weeping Noway spruce into a T shape to resemble a cross, or if you have the time you can train the trunk to an s shape for an exotic look. It is an extremely hardy variety that is deer and pest resistant and will grow in just about any condition.

Landscape Use

The main landscape use for Weeping norway spruce is a specimen plant. It makes a great focal point in a landscape, using some smaller shrubs around it. They tend to be an expensive plant so I recommend planting it in a place that is very visible. Being a specimen plant, is normally a stand alone shrub, not planting more then one in one spot. They will make a good addition to an asian rock garden or a container plant for your patio or deck (I personally have 3 in containers on my porch.

Weeping Norway Spruce Facts

Mature height: The average height is 5 feet, but can grow up to 20 feet tall if desired.

Mature width: The average width is 4 feet wide, But can grow up to 10 feet wide.

Soil type: Weeping Norway Spruce can grow in most conditions including clay, loam, and shale.

Growth rate: Very slow. This plant will take "forever" to turn into a mature plant.

Sun Exposure: They like full sun best but i have seen them growing good in shade.

Moisture: Water Weeping Norway Spruce when first planted until established and then it should not need watered. They are drought tolerant.

Flower: The green flower is not visible.

Seed: The cone start out purple and turn into a brown color when it is fully grown, measuring a couple inches long.

Winter color: The winter color is a deep dark green.

Maintenance: Weeping Norway Spruce will take some time to make it look it's best. You can leave it untrimmed if you like a ground cover. Stake up branches to add height. I like to get creative and make shapes. The most common shape is an arching, to do this just stake long ends up until they harden off then you can take the stake off.

For more ideas for your landscape and some useful evergreen shrub facts check out my website: