About
Picea smithiana, the Morinda spruce, is an evergreen conifer to 30 m with spreading branches curving upwards at the tips and pendent branchlets with sparse, flexible, dark-green needles. Greenish cones to 10 cm mature to purple-brown. One of the most dramatic and graceful of all ornamental spruces for a sheltered, sunny garden.
About the genus
Picea, the spruces, are evergreen trees with rigid, needle-like leaves arranged singly all round the shoots and narrow, leathery-scaled cones borne near the ends of the shoots. A large genus of ornamental conifers ranging from large trees to compact dwarf cultivars.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeConifers, Trees
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesArchitectural
Native toNE Afghanistan to C Himalaya
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any deep, moist but well-drained, neutral to acidic soil in full sun. See conifer cultivation for more advice
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by grafting in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to adelgids, red spider mite and conifer aphid
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus