Picea sitchensis Sugarloaf - Sitka Spruce

Picea sitchensis 'Sugarloaf' is a dwarf form of the Sitka spruce, quite whimsical, which forms over time a pyramidal and compact bush, wider than it is tall, very attractive. In spring, the tips of its branches are adorned with very dense and slightly twisted young shoots that play with the light, exhibiting the icy bright blue underside of their emerald green needles. Its very neat silhouette fits well in small gardens, enlivens large rockeries, and works wonders in pots on the terrace. It is a very hardy, undemanding small conifer that does not require pruning. It thrives in a moist, not too chalky soil, and in a sunny exposure.

Picea sitchensis, also known as the Sitka spruce, is a conifer of 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 environment, which is often very harsh, this fast-growing tree exceeds 40m (131ft) in height, and shows a pyramidal habit with age and whorled branches. This spruce is one of the few that can be transplanted at a young age. It is very tolerant of soil pH.

The 'Sugarloaf' variety is a rare variety in our gardens, discovered on Mount 'Pain de Sucre' located in Oregon, United States. It is distinguished from the wild species by its very small size and its flattened pyramidal to conical habit, and by its unusual young shoots. This bush shows regular and particularly dense vegetation. Its growth is slow, around 7cm (3in) per year. A 20-year-old specimen will not exceed 1.20m (4ft) in width and 1.80m (6ft) in spread at the base. Its thin and stiff branches are highly branched at their tips, very tight, 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 that reveals the bluish and silvery underside of the needles.

The dwarf Sitka spruce 'Sugarloaf' deserves to be better known and planted in gardens, even the smallest ones. With its ease of cultivation in cool climates, its anything but boring personality, and its very compact growth, it is a perfect plant for rockeries, flower beds, and terraces. This plant goes well with large stones, the geometric lines of swimming pools, and masonry works. It can be associated with complementary grasses or dwarf conifers with a trailing habit (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), globose habit (Picea abies 'Little Gem'), or columnar habit (Juniperus communis 'Sentinel'). The real graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes, and textures to the dance of flowering. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally and durably shape a flower bed, mark pathways, border the terrace, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. The key is to play with volumes and colours.