Dwarf Papoose Sitka Spruce

The Papoose Sitka Spruce is a wonderful miniature tree, a round ball of year-round beauty when young, becoming more conical with age. Although always small compared to its parent tree, it will mature as much as 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, so allow enough room when planting for its final size. The short needles cover the branches densely, and are a silvery blue-green when mature. In spring the new shoots are like striking blue stars on the darker background foliage. A rounded bun when young, with multiple stems, one will eventually form a leading branch, drawing it up into a more conical form. A great choice for foundation planting around your home, adding color in every season, or for growing in a large rock garden, on a slope or in a pot. Unlike other spruce, this is a tree for warmer zones, and adores being near the sea, tolerant of salt spray and sea mist.

• A round globe of branches, becoming more conical with age
• Silvery new needles become sea-green with age
• Tight, dense branching needs no trimming to stay neat
• A great specimen among other evergreens, or in a rock garden
• Best in coastal regions, enjoying the sea air and mild climates

Grow the Papoose Sitka Spruce in full sun for the best foliage color and tightest branching. Plant it in a well-drained soil, preferably a moist, sandy one, although it adapts to most ordinary garden soils. Not drought tolerant, and best in areas with cool, moist summers. Deer won’t eat it and it has no serious pests or diseases. It grows 3 to 6 inches a year, and needs no trimming. Removing any dominant upright stems will keep it more rounded indefinitely.