Picea omorika (Serbian Spruce)

Michael's Opinion

Next to Picea orientalis this is my favorite spruce. A class plant with refined form, colour and behavior. This should be one of the first spruce to be included in the garden.

Botanical Information

FamilyPinaceae
GenusPicea
Speciesomorika
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen)
ReferencesWidely available.
OriginSouthwestern Europe. Introduced into cultivation 1880.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone 4 - 7
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone2a - 6b
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH6 - H7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-34 - (-9)
Temperature (°F)-30 - 5
Height16 - 19 m
Spread4 - 7 m
GrowthSlow
Flowering PeriodMay

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionSlender trunk, short with drooping branches. It has a narrow pyramidal form to it making it valued as an ornamental specimen.
ID CharacteristicThe tree is dark green with the new growth being blue underneath with a white stripe. Very narrow form with drooping branches.
ShapeSlender graceful form, with drooping lower branches with up-swept ends.
LandscapeUsed as a specimen planting or as a group plant. It is valued as an ornamental tree because of its graceful, slender form and interesting colour.
PropagationPropagated by seeds in the autumn, as well as cuttings. Use a cutting of a semi-ripe terminal shoot about 5-8cm long around August, roots will be formed around spring time.
CultivationPlant in partial shade, adapts to full sun. It does best growing in rich moist loamy soils. Some protection from strong winter winds is beneficial.
PestsNo major pest and diseases.
Notable SpecimensThe Gardens of M building, Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada and Rayner Gardens, London, Ontario, Canada.
HabitatGrows mostly along the Drina River valley in Western Serbia; not overly wide spread.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThin bark, coffee colour, which scales off in platelets.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionVery small buds cylindrical and oblong in shape, no more than 50 mm in size. Reddish brown in colour; non-resinous.
Leaf DescriptionFlattened and very flexible needles 1- 2.5 cm long. The needles are green on the upper surface, blue underside with 2 lines of white dots on the lower surface.
Flower DescriptionMonoecious, male flowers resemble a strawberry colour and shape, 1-2 cm long. Female flowers are reddish purple, slightly larger than the male flower, they look like a miniature form of its cones.
Fruit DescriptionOblong-vid 3-4 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, purplish black to a cinnamon brown in colour. Fruiting time is June through to August.
Colour DescriptionAppears dark green from above and whitish from below. The bark is coffee brown and the cones are a cinnamon brown.
Texture DescriptionIt has a loose graceful form and is a medium textured tree in the landscape.

Photographs