Bergman's Gem Oriental Spruce

A collection of evergreens can be the backbone of a handsome, low-maintenance garden, adding color, structure and year-round interest, yet asking for nothing much from you. Spruce are a large and varied group, and one of the most interesting of the smaller varieties is Bergman’s Gem Oriental Spruce. At home in cooler parts of the country, and areas with mild summers, it grows steadily into a rounded, dense mound of branches, 3 feet tall and wide within 10 years, and continuing to add inches every year of its life to become 5 feet or so in time. The short, flat, glossy needles are rich green, without the blue or silver tones seen in some other spruce, so they add the welcome warmth of green to the cooler tones of other evergreens. Grow it among the foundation planting around your home, in rock gardens and on slopes, among flowering shrubs, or as part of a collection of these fascinating little plants, as a striking feature bed in your garden – a bed that needs almost no care at all.

• A dense globe of compact branches 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
• Glossy, bright green foliage is handsome year-round
• Needs no trimming to maintain its neat form
• Great addition to the evergreens in your garden
• A good choice for a spot with poor, gravel or sandy soil

Bergman’s Gem Oriental Spruce should be planted out in full sun, although a touch of shade is acceptable. Some shelter from cold winds is advisable, and this tree enjoys cooler zones, with summers that aren’t too hot and humid. Plant in any kind of soil that is well-drained, from acidic to alkaline and including poor, gravel soils and rocky ground. Deer ignore it and it doesn’t have any pest or disease issues of concern. No trimming is needed for it to keep its natural dense, compact form. In cold zones don’t forget to give it a deep soaking shortly before the ground freezes for the winter – this will prevent any winter damage to the foliage.