Oriental spruce Nutans

Synonyms: drooping Oriental spruce, weeping Oriental spruce

Oriental spruce Nutans – an impressive cultivar of Oriental spruce. It was obtained by the Hungarian breeder V.F. Niemetz (V. F. Niemetz ) in the city of Timisoara (Temersvar) in Romania (formerly Austro-Hungary) in 1905.

It is a low evergreen tree 2-3 (5-10) m in height and 90-120 cm in width. Annual growth 20-30 cm in height and 15 cm in width. Habit conical, uneven, very spreading. Branches grow sideways and hang at the ends, of varying length. Root system superficial, well-branched.

Needles dark green, glossy, short, up to 1 cm in length, densely arranged, stiff.

Cones elongated-ovoid, purplish-violet, when fully mature they turn brown.

Hardiness zone: 5b

Location: grows in sun and partial shade. Tolerance to urban conditions is moderate. Not demanding regarding soil fertility. Grows well on fresh fertile soil with acidic or alkaline reaction. Likes moist, well-drained soil. Needs protection from cold winds. Poorly tolerates heat and drought.

Planting: Soil mix: turf and leaf soil, peat, sand in the ratio 2:2:1:1. Drainage is made of crushed brick, layer 15-20 cm. Recommended distance between plants – 2-3 m. Planting depth: 50-70 cm. Root collar at ground level.

Care: after planting you can apply 100-150 g of nitroammophoska. In dry periods it is recommended to water at least once a week 10-12 l per plant. Loosening is carried out to a depth of 5-6 cm, while peat is not removed but mixed with the soil. Young seedlings need to be covered with conifer branches for the winter.

Pruning: tolerates trimming well, especially when young.

Diseases: Schütte, snow Schütte, fusariosis, stem and root rot, bark necrosis, ulcerative (wound) canker, cone rust, spruce vertun.

Pests: spruce leafroller, spider mite, Sitka spruce aphid.

Propagation: by seed

Uses: can be used for bonsai. Looks good as a specimen, can be planted on rocky soils.