Skylands Oriental Spruce

Picea orientalis 'Skylands'

Skylands Oriental Spruce is a slow-growing conifer tree with an upright conical-pyramidal habit from short ascending branches. The short dense needles have green interiors with tips in spring that are a showy bright yellow with sun or chartreuse with shade, with the tip color fading to green as summer progresses regardless of sun. Cylindrical cones emerge red and mature to brown. Best color in full sun with rich and moist well-drained soils.  Tolerates poor soil and drought once established.

Also sold as 'Aurea Compacta'.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Low maintenance plant. No serious disease problems. Spider mite invasions can cause significant problems with new growth and overall tree health. Watch for needle cast, cankers, bagworms, and mites.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Specimen or mass plantings,  Borders, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Garden, Foundation Planting, and Street Planting.

COMPANION PLANTS: Loropetalum, Weigela, Barberry

IMAGES: Photoset by OSU Landscape Plants, Picea orientalis 'Skylands', (2) Photos by F. D. Richards, (1) Harper's HR-C 2014,​ (2) Harper's HR-C 2012

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.