| General Description | Picea abies 'Saint James' is a low-lying evergreen shrub with dense dark green foliage and very small cones. The dense foliage helps it keep its shape in winter. |
| ID Characteristic | The stiff green needles can be rolled easily between your fingers. Cones are very small. |
| Shape | Spherical. |
| Landscape | This spruce shrub works well in rock gardens either solitary or accompanied by other dwarf shrubs. It can be used as a ground cover or border. It is wind resistant and will do fine in an exposed location. Also a good choice for the small and evergreen gardens. |
| Cultivation | Grow in full sun to part shade, in well-drained, rich, acidic soil. |
| Pests | No serious pests or diseases of note. |
| Notable Specimens | Whistling Gardens, Wilsonville, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Fairly rough with a scaly texture, light brown. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Distinctly red. |
| Leaf Description | Needles are short, hard and green, attached directly to the branch (versus clustered). |
| Flower Description | Non-flowering. |
| Fruit Description | Cones are very small and brown. |
| Colour Description | Dark green needles and red buds. |
| Texture Description | Consistently coarse. |
