Picea orientalis Kenwith - Caucasian Spruce

Picea orientalis 'Kenwith' is a dwarf variety of Oriental spruce. It slowly forms a small bush with a slightly irregular and very compact conical habit, covered with very dense, shiny green foliage made up of very short needles. Its dark silhouette comes to life in winter with chamois buds, which release bright light green young shoots in spring. Its very slow growth makes it an ideal candidate for small spaces, large rockeries, and terrace containers. It is a stout, very hardy, highly adaptable small conifer that requires little maintenance. It is happy with any well-drained soil, not too dry, and a sunny exposure.

Picea orientalis, also known as Oriental spruce, is an evergreen conifer in the Pinaceae family, native to northeastern Turkey and the Caucasus. In its natural habitat, this large pyramidal tree reaching 30m (98ft) in height grows both in the humus-rich soil of mixed or evergreen forests and on the rocky slopes of the Black Sea coast.

'Kenwith' is a cultivar derived from this species, with a slightly irregular and rounded conical silhouette that resembles a slightly unkempt and very bushy, covered with dark and shiny foliage. Its growth is slow, around 2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) per year. It will reach a height of 40cm (16in) and a width of 30cm (12in) in 10 years, and at maturity will become a small bush 2m (7ft) tall and 1.5m (5ft) wide. In spring, it produces young shoots of tender green at the ends of its upright, rather short and very tightly spaced branches. Over time, they darken but retain a shiny appearance. They are covered with very short needles, which have a diamond-shaped cross-section. They are shiny, arranged radially and very densely around the branches. They are shiny dark green on the top and have 2 very discreet white bands on the underside.

The 'Kenwith' Oriental Spruce is a true dwarf conifer that will find its place in all gardens, even the smallest. With its ease of cultivation, discreet presence, and very limited growth, it is a perfect plant for small spaces, large rockeries, and terraces. It thrives in many situations and adapts to various climates, as long as the soil it is planted in is well-drained. It will be adopted without hesitation on a large slope, among rocks, above a wall or a low wall, or near a swimming pool, as it blends well with geometric lines and masonry works. The graphical qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of flowers. These plants with their reassuring permanence structurally define a flower bed, mark pathways, border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They pair well with heathers, shrubby salvias, or ground cover plants such as aubrietas, Cerastes, as well as with light-flowered shrubs like gauras. The key is to play with volumes and colours.