Picea abies 'Nidiformis'
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BIRD'S NEST SPRUCE
Family: Pinaceae
Pronounced: PIE-see-a AB-ee-ays nee-dih-FORM-is
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Conifers.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: A2, A3; 1-6, 14-17.
USDA zones: 3-8.
Heat zones: 8-1.
Mature size:
Height: 5 feet (1.5 m).
Width: 5-6 feet (1.5-3 m).
Needle attributes:
Four sided, 1-inch long, dark green needles.
Growth habit:
Spreading.
Light:
Full sun.
Soil:
Moist, well-drained, neutral to acidic soil.
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Rainy Side Notes
Picea comes from the Latin word pix, meaning pitch, and abies is the Latin name for fir. Nidiformis means nest-shaped. Flat-topped, wider than high, and with a hollow center, this spruce looks like its descriptive common name—bird's nest spruce.
This spruce is a good choice for adding “bones” to the garden. This handsome conifer has a charming shape and adds substance to my own mixed garden border. In the summer, it quietly takes a back seat to the flamboyant perennials, but in winter, the bright green shrub has the duty to keep the garden looking alive. I appreciate it, especially since many other plants choose to hide the winter away, skulking underground.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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