The Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula’) offers a distinct presence in garden and landscape designs. Its unique growth habit and elegant form make it a sought-after ornamental conifer. This tree provides a strong visual anchor, offering year-round interest with its evergreen foliage. It is a desirable choice for a specimen plant with significant aesthetic impact.
Weeping Norway Spruce Characteristics
The Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula’) is characterized by its distinctive cascading branches, creating an irregular, often asymmetrical form. Its foliage consists of short, stiff, typically dark green needles; new spring growth can emerge with a lime green hue. Unlike the species Picea abies, the ‘Pendula’ cultivar’s mature size depends on staking.
Unstaked, this spruce spreads along the ground as a woody groundcover, forming a mound up to 3 feet tall and 10 feet wide. If staked and trained early, it can achieve an upright, weeping form, reaching 8 to 25 feet tall with a 2 to 15-foot spread. This growth habit, combined with its evergreen needles, makes it a compelling specimen plant, adding unique texture and visual interest. Its slow to moderate growth rate, typically 12 to 15 inches per year, allows for controlled development.
Choosing a Site and Planting
Selecting an appropriate site is important for the Weeping Norway Spruce’s health and aesthetic appeal. It thrives in full sun (at least six hours daily) but tolerates some partial shade. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils, adapting to loamy, sandy, or clay types, provided they are not waterlogged. Adequate air circulation also prevents moisture buildup within its dense foliage.
Optimal planting time is early spring or early fall, at least six weeks before the first hard frost. Dig a hole twice the root ball’s width and slightly shallower than its depth. The root flare, where the trunk widens, should sit just above ground level for proper establishment. Gently tease out circling roots from the root ball before placing the tree.
Backfill with excavated soil and organic compost, gently firming to remove air pockets without compacting. Water thoroughly to settle the soil. To stake for an upright form, insert stakes about eight inches from the trunk and secure the tree with fabric ties, ensuring no girdling. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base, keeping it a few inches from the trunk to prevent moisture issues.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Consistent watering is important, especially during establishment. For the first three years, monitor soil moisture and water deeply when the top few inches feel dry. Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant but benefit from supplemental watering during extended dry periods, particularly in hotter climates.
Weeping Norway Spruces have modest fertilization needs. For healthy growth, apply a balanced, slow-release evergreen fertilizer annually in early spring. Adjust quantity based on tree size, and water deeply after fertilizing to aid nutrient absorption and prevent root burn. While low-maintenance, regular health monitoring is beneficial.
Pruning maintains the weeping form and manages size. Promptly remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches to prevent issue spread. The best time for pruning is late winter or early spring, before new growth, to minimize sap loss. Avoid heavy cutting into old wood without foliage, as this can prevent new growth. Selective thinning of crowded inner branches improves air circulation, deterring fungal diseases like needle cast and Cytospora canker.
Integrating into Landscape Designs
The Weeping Norway Spruce serves as a captivating focal point in landscape designs due to its unique form and evergreen foliage. Its cascading branches offer a dramatic, sculptural element, ideal as a standalone specimen where its distinctive silhouette can be appreciated. Its presence can define an area, drawing the eye and adding elegance.
It integrates seamlessly into rock gardens, draping over stones and complementing hardscape elements. Its irregular form also suits Asian-inspired gardens or naturalistic water features, creating a serene, contemplative atmosphere. For larger properties, multiple spruces can establish an effective privacy screen; a single specimen works well in courtyards or at foundation corners.
Companion plantings that complement its rich green needles and unique texture include various perennials and shrubs. Consider plants like Spirea, Drift Rose, Weigela, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, and Sedge for appealing contrasts in form, color, and texture. Other suitable choices include Solomon’s seal, Astilbe, and wild ginger, which thrive in similar growing conditions. Its year-round beauty, with vibrant green needles even in winter, ensures continuous visual interest.