Picea sitchensis Midget - Sitka Spruce

Picea sitchensis Midget is a variety of miniature Sitka spruce, highly appreciated for rock gardens, as well as small urban or contemporary gardens. With a very slow growth, this small conifer initially has a round shape and eventually forms a very flat, beautiful blue-grey to green-grey, pyramid. It is very hardy and does not require pruning, thriving in moist, not too chalky soil, and a sunny exposure.

Picea sitchensis, also known as Sitka spruce, is a coniferous tree from the pinaceae family native to the west coast of the United States, named after the locality of Sitka, located in Alaska. It is a very hardy species, accustomed to cold and humid climates in summer. In its natural, harsh environment this fast-growing tree can reach over 40m (131 ft 2 in) in height and displays a pyramidal habit with an expanding crown and whorled branches. This spruce is one of the few that can be successfully transplanted at a young age. It shows great tolerance towards soil pH.

The 'Midget' variety distinguishes itself from the wild species by its small size and its flat, pyramid shape. This bush has regular and particularly dense growth. Its growth rate is slow, around 5cm (2 in) per year. A 10-year-old specimen will not exceed 80cm (31.5 in) in height and will have a base width of 70cm. Its thin and stiff branches are divided at their ends, tightly packed and horizontal to slightly trailing. They are covered with fine, flat, and stiff needles, arranged radially around the branches. The young shoots end in a slight twist, revealing the silver-grey underside of the needles. Mature specimens produce beautiful elongated, light brown cones measuring 6 to 10cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) in length.

The 'Midget' Sitka spruce can be planted in gardens, even the smallest ones. With its easy cultivation in cool climates, its beautiful colour, and its compact size, it is a perfect plant for rock gardens, flower beds, and terraces. This plant goes well with large stones, geometric lines of pools, and masonry. It can be associated with complementary grasses or prostrate (Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip), globose (Picea abies Little Gem), or columnar (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel') dwarf conifers. The key is to play with volumes and colours.