Picea sitchensis Silberzwerg - Sitka Spruce

Picea sitchensis Silberzwerg is a very pretty dwarf variety of Sitka spruce that eventually forms a wide and flattened cone, a sort of very dense large cushion. In spring, the tips of its branches are adorned with dense and slightly twisted young shoots that play with the light, showing the silver underside of their green-blue needles. Its very neat silhouette blends well in small gardens, and its colour enlivens any decor, whether in a rock garden or in a pot on the terrace. It is a very hardy, undemanding small conifer that does not require pruning. It is content with moist, not too chalky soil, and a sunny exposure.

Picea sitchensis, also known as Sitka spruce, is a conifer of the pinaceae family native to the west coast of the United States, which owes its name to the locality of Sitka, located in Alaska. It is a very hardy species, accustomed to cold and humid climates in summer. In its natural environment, which is often very harsh, this rapidly growing tree reaches over 40 m (131 ft 2 in) in height, and shows a pyramidal habit with a widening crown and whorled branches. This spruce is one of the few that tolerates transplantation at a young age. It is very tolerant of soil pH.

The 'Silberzwerg' variety differs from the wild species with its very small size and its flattened-cone, pyramidal habit. This bush has particularly dense vegetation. Its growth is slow, around 7 cm (2.8 in) per year. A 10-year-old subject will not exceed 80 cm (31.5 in) in width and 70 cm (27.6 in) in height. Its thin and stiff branches are very branched at their tips, very close together and slightly erect. They are covered with thin and short, flat and stiff needles, arranged radially around the branches like on a brush. The upright young shoots reveal the silver undersides of the needles.

The dwarf Sitka spruce 'Silberzwerg' deserves to be planted more in gardens, even the smallest ones. With its easy cultivation in cool climates, its anything-but-boring personality, and its very compact development, it is a perfect plant for rock gardens, flower beds, and terraces. This plant goes well with large stones, geometric lines of swimming pools, and stonework. It can be associated with complementary grasses or dwarf conifers with a prostrate habit (Juniperus horizontalis Blue Chip), round habit (Picea abies Little Gem), or columnar habit (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel'). The architectural qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over flowers. These plants structurally define a flower bed, mark pathways and border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.