Bird's nest spruce

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; some afternoon shade helps in warmer locations.

Water

Moderate; keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during establishment and dry summers.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic. Tolerates loam, sandy soil and clay if drainage is adequate; avoid persistently wet or strongly alkaline ground.

Height

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m), occasionally taller after many decades

Spread

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m), sometimes reaching 8 ft (2.4 m) with age

Foliage

Evergreen. Short, stiff green needles surround densely branched shoots. Fresh spring growth is lighter green; the central depression may become less distinct with age.

Growth

Slow, usually about 2-4 in (5-10 cm) per year once established.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.9 ft (0.57 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.1 ft (0.64 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.3 ft (0.71 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.8 ft (0.84 m)

About 8 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level and leave room for its eventual width.
• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons; check established plants during prolonged drought.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed only if growth is weak or a soil test shows a deficiency; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Brush off heavy, wet snow gently if it is bending branches; do not strike frozen growth.

Pruning. Little pruning is needed. Remove dead or damaged branches when noticed, and lightly shorten unwanted fresh growth in late spring if necessary; do not cut into bare old wood, which rarely regrows.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable and not waterlogged; water thoroughly and mulch.

Late spring

Check new growth and lightly trim only if needed to preserve the low, spreading outline.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather and inspect pale or stippled needles for spider mites.

Autumn

Refresh mulch without burying stems, and water well before winter if the soil is dry.

Winter

Check for branches bent by wet snow and protect plants near paths from de-icing salt.

• Use at the front of a mixed shrub border for a low evergreen mound beneath taller deciduous shrubs.
• Place among rocks with dwarf conifers and small perennials for contrasting shapes and textures.
• Repeat beside a path or entrance for structure without regular clipping, allowing space for its mature spread.
• Combine with heathers and spring bulbs in a cool-climate garden with acidic, well-drained soil.

Garden styles it suits: Low-maintenance, Winter interest, Alpine rock garden, Japanese, Traditional and Small-space.

Plant it with: Heather, Winter heath, Dwarf Japanese maple, Hosta, Siberian iris and Snowdrops.

Wildlife: Dense evergreen branches provide shelter for small birds and invertebrates. Cones are uncommon on this dwarf cultivar, so it offers less seed food than a full-sized Norway spruce.

• Spruce spider mites cause fine stippling, dull needles and sometimes webbing, especially in cool spring or autumn weather. Confirm mites by tapping foliage over white paper; wash affected growth with water and use a labelled treatment if damage continues.
• Root rot can cause browning and dieback in waterlogged soil. Improve drainage and reduce watering; badly affected plants may need replacing in a better-drained position.
• Heat and drought can scorch needles, particularly near paving or reflected heat. Mulch, water deeply during dry periods and choose a cooler site in warmer regions.
• Winter burn and salt injury can brown exposed needles. Water before the ground freezes if autumn is dry, shelter young plants from drying winds and keep de-icing salt away.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. The needles are stiff and pointed, so chewing them can irritate the mouth or digestive tract; sap may irritate sensitive skin.

• Little Gem Norway spruce (Picea abies 'Little Gem')

  Usually forms a smaller, tighter cushion with shorter needles and finer, denser growth rather than the broader, more open nest shape.

• Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica')

  Forms a dense upright cone rather than a low, spreading mound with a depressed centre.

• Nest-form Japanese spruce (Picea jezoensis 'Nana')

  Can form a similar broad mound, but its flatter needles have conspicuous pale bands beneath; bird's nest spruce has four-sided needles that are green all around.

The cultivar name 'Nidiformis' means nest-shaped, referring to the shallow central hollow that also gives bird's nest spruce its common name.

Propagation. Usually propagated commercially from semi-ripe cuttings or by grafting. Cuttings can be slow and difficult to root; seedlings will not reliably retain the dwarf bird's-nest form.

Accepted botanical name

Picea abies

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany and Greece.

Measured

Soil pH 5 to 7. Average height 2250 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.