Pandy’s Garden Center Spruce Bergman’s Gem

Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Prefers rich, moist soils, but tolerates some poor soils including rocky ones. Although established plants have some drought tolerance, soils should be kept consistently moist and not allowed to dry out in the early years. Generally prefers cool climates and will usually struggle in the heat and humidity of the deep South. Site in locations protected from strong winter winds when growing in the northern parts of the growing range (USDA Zone 4).

Noteworthy Characteristics

Picea orientalis, commonly called Oriental spruce, is a medium to large, densely-branched, narrow-pyramidal evergreen conifer that typically grows in cultivation to 50-70′ tall. It is native to mountain areas from the Caucasus to Turkey. Flattened, glossy, dark green needles (to 1/2″ long) are shorter than the needles of other species of spruce. Small pollen bearing (male) cones are red. Seed bearing (female) cones (to 4″ long) are purple maturing to brown. Bark may exfoliate with age.

Genus name is reportedly derived from the Latin word pix meaning pitch in reference to the sticky resin typically found in spruce bark.

Specific epithet means of the Orient.

‘Bergman’s Gem’ is small vase-shaped plant that matures over time to a flat globular form. It grows to 2-3′ tall and as wide over the first 10 years.