Picea glauca 'Pendula'
Common Name: white spruce 
Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Pinaceae
Zone: 2 to 6
Height: 12.00 to 40.00 feet
Spread: 5.00 to 8.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Leaf: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer

Culture

Best grown in moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Best performance is in cold winter climates with cool summers. Site in areas with good air circulation to help rid the dense foliage of moisture. Somewhat intolerant of urban stresses such as air pollutants and salt spray. Plants will struggle in the high heat and humidity of St. Louis summers, and should not be grown in the eastern U.S. south of USDA Zone 6.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Picea glauca, commonly called white spruce, is an extremely hardy evergreen conifer that is native to upland areas and lake/stream margins stretching from Alaska across the boreal forest of Canada to Newfoundland, dipping south to Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York. This tree typically grows 60-80' tall (less frequently to 140' tall) with a cone-shaped crown. It diminishes in size to low, shrubby forms near tree line in northern Canada. Blue-green needles (to 3/4") on small woody pegs have sharp tips. Needles are pungently aromatic when crushed. Needles have a glaucous (white waxy coating) bloom, hence the specific epithet and common name. Branchlets do not droop. Cylindrical pale brown cones (to 2.5" long) have flexible scales.

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 both are in reference to the fact that mature needles of this tree become glaucous (acquire a waxy white bloom) with age.

'Pendula' is commonly called weeping white spruce. It has a conical to pyramidal shape formed by an upright central leader and secondary branches that sweep down to create a layered appearance. The lower branches tend to drape down to the ground. Depending on the strength or training of the central leader, ‘Pendula’ will grow 12 to 40 ft. tall but will retain its narrow shape spreading 5 to 8 ft. wide. It has blue green needles with a whitish bloom and 1 to 2 in. cones.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to needle and stem rust, canker, trunk and root rot. Yellow-headed spruce sawfly, spruce budworm and eastern spruce beetle are problems in some areas. Mites are common and repeated infestations can do serious injury to the plant. Intolerant of urban stresses (pollution, salt spray).

Uses

Specimen for landscape. Windbreak or screen.