Plants with a weeping habit lend a unique dimension to the character of a garden. One of the best plants with a weeping form is Picea glauca 'Pendula,' weeping white spruce.
This stately evergreen has nice blue-green foliage that hugs the trunk, sweeping downward to create a fantastic impression. It came from
Its stately narrow, conical habit has moderate growth. Leaf color is rich green. Needlelike, 1/2- to 3/4-inch-long foliage is bunched tightly on branchlets. Whitish blooms lightly cover the foliage.
Young stems are yellow-brown; older bark is gray to gray-brown, eventually developing thin, scaly plates. Its fruit is a 1- to 2-inch brown cone.
It is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 2.
Culture tips
'Pendula' prefers sun or light shade and rich, moist soil, but it's adaptable to a wide range of conditions. It tolerates harsh conditions and is often seen on lists of deer-resistant landscape plants.
Growth is moderate, reaching 8-10 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide in 10 years. Mature specimens as high as 40-50 feet and as wide as 8-10 feet are common.
In the landscape, it's definitely a specimen plant: this plant is hard to hide. 'Pendula' is probably best-suited for larger sites that contain a variety of plant material.
Pruning is not recommended; allow this beauty to develop its unique habit.
Pests to be on the lookout for include stem rot and spider mites, but expect no serious problems.
{sidebar id=28}
Specifics
Name: Picea glauca 'Pendula'
Common name: Weeping white spruce.
Family: Pinaceae.
Description: Width reaches 40-50 feet; height is 8-10 feet.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 2-7.
Landscape uses: Specimen tree in larger sites.
- Kevin Neal
Photo courtesy of Iseli Nursery