| General Description | One of the most popular dwarf conifers. Dense rounded, compact, mounded habit, flat-topped spreading shrub with a depression in the centre. Long lived, highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. |
| ID Characteristic | Slow-growing dwarf cultivar, spreading, horizontal to slightly ascending branches form a dense, broad-rounded, shrubby, flattened globe. Mature plants have a depression in the centre of the flattened top, hence the common name of Bird’s Nest Spruce. |
| Shape | Spreading, dense, broad-rounded globe. |
| Landscape | It can be used for borders, groundcover, as an accent plant, or a foundation plant. This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it is tolerant of such. |
| Propagation | Large specimens transplant easily, strikes easily from cuttings and grows quite fast when young. |
| Cultivation | Full sun; moderately moist, well-drained soil; extremely hardy. |
| Pests | No serious insect or disease problems. Canker, wood decay, needle cast and rust may occur, it should be monitored for aphids, bagworms and mites |
| Notable Specimens | A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Thin when young, scaly with age. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Green to brown. |
| Leaf Description | Thin dark, dull grey-green needles up to 2 cm long. Flat, thin and possess sharp, curved hooks on their undersides; a unique characteristic. Crowded on the branch, foliage emerges lime green in spring. |
| Flower Description | Monoecious, female flowers are terminal and are pink in colour. |
| Fruit Description | Cones, 9–17 cm long, erect or pendulous maturing in first, second, or occasionally third year, dehiscent or occasionally indehiscent, with many spirally arranged ovulate scales and bracts. Not ornamentally significant and quite rare. |
| Colour Description | Bright green shoots in spring, but a duller, rich green in winter. |
| Texture Description | They relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. |
