Evergreen Gardenworks
2008
Descriptive Catalog

Picea (Spruce) S\M\-50ø\RG\Ls\B Evergreen trees and shrubs. Easy to grow conifers. Many species and varieties including many dwarfs that are invaluable for landscape and rock garden use. We grow dwarf types with a few exceptions which will be full size trees as described below. 

A word of caution about Yezo spruce and Sachalin spruce: There is a great deal of confusion surrounding the naming of these two species, especially in the use of the common names. Many bonsai artists speak of 'Yezo Spruce' when the plant to which they are referring is actually P. glehnii. We cannot be responsible for how people use common names. We guarantee that our plants are in fact named correctly botanically, so please try to determine which species it is that you would like to order. In general, P. glehnii is the smaller, slower growing species of the two with needle length about 1/2 inch, and dark green. It can be difficult to grow. Most of the time, when people ask for "Ezo Spruce" they really want P. glehnii. Picea jezoensis, also called Ezo Spruce or Edo Spruce or Yeddo Spruce, is slightly larger, faster growing with green needles from about 3/4 to 1 inch long. Picea jezoensis hondoensis, or Hondo Spruce, has slightly bluish green needles of about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long and is the fastest growing of the three, and more widely adaptable. Picea orientalis actually has the shortest needles of the three, and grows strongly and densely despite its diminuative habit. The branchlets are a bit more angular than the others.

6990 Picea abies 'Little Gem' One of our favorite plants in the whole nursery, this cultivar forms a wonderfully tight globe of foliage to about 3 feet in 20 years. Rich green 1/2 inch needles are tightly clustered about the stems to form an impenetrable mass. A Cadillac rock garden plant also used extensively for bonsai.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
FOUR INCH POTS $16

7000 Picea abies 'Maxwellii' Slow growing dwarf form making a flattened globe or mound with growth of about one inch a year. Needles are rather far apart and plant is somewhat open. Foliage color is bright green.
FOUR INCH POTS $12

7030 Picea glauca 'Conica' (Dwarf Alberta Spruce) One of the most popular dwarf spruces, often used for live Christmas tree becasuse of its almost perfect conical habit and sheared look. Foliage color is medium green with a slight bluish cast. Slow growing at about 3 to 4 inches a year. It will reach 12 feet in 60 years, but growth from 6 feet to maturity is very slow at about 1 to 2 inches per year. Protect from hot dry winds and intense hot sunlight. Grows best in full morning sun in sheltered locations.

This is an excellent plant for miniature gardens and saikei. However, it is problematical for specimen bonsai use. The branches resist being wired into any other shape and interior foliage is almost impossible to maintain. It is very tempting for specimen bonsai use, but we don't recommend it. On the other hand, it is excellent for saikei and group plantings where its natural shape can be maintained. 'Pixie' (below) is even better for the smallest gardens.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8

7050 Picea glauca 'Pixie' Extremely slow growing and one of the tiniest Dwarf Alberta Spruces at 2 feet x 1 foot in 15 years. Nice dark green color is slightly bluish and foliage is dense. Very rare due to the difficulty of propagation. ONE GALLON SIZE $40 Available Sept '08

7065 Picea glehnii (Sachalin Spruce) S\PS\M\-30ø\LS\B A traditional bonsai plant with very short bright green needles (about 1/2inch). Very slow growing, four year old plants may only be 6 inches tall. Exfoliating chocolate brown bark develops as the tree ages. These plants are seedlings and are very difficult to find in this country. See the notes under Picea for more information.
ONE GALLON SIZE $40 Available Sept '08 (hopefully!)

7070 Picea jezoensis hondoensis (Yezo Spruce, Hondo Spruce) S\PS\M\-50ø\B Long used for bonsai in Japan, this plant is difficult to find in the US. It has very short blue green needles and is used for formal upright bonsai and for group plantings. The foliage is slightly bluer and larger than the species P. jezoensis. See the notes under Picea for more information. Seedlings.
Available again in 2008?

7075 Picea orientalis (Oriental Spruce) S\PS\M\-20ø\Ls\B A very adaptable spruce, surviving nicely even in very hot climates, some afternoon protection needed as bonsai. Very dark green foliage is some of the shortest of any spruce, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Grows about three to six inches a year, eventually reaching over 100 feet. In youth it is a slow growing fat cone that is very neat and tidy.
2 3/4 INCH POTS $8
FOUR INCH POTS $16 Available Sept '08

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