Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Alberta Spruce

Brand:  Iseli Nursery

Description:

A popular conical evergreen shrub with light green new foliage that matures to gray-green; this selection has longer needles and a faster growth rate with a more open form; great as an accent plant; tolerates heat and cold and a wide range of soils

Ornamental Features

Big Berta White Spruce is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive grayish green evergreen foliage which emerges light green in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Big Berta White Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Big Berta White Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Big Berta White Spruce will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selection of a native North American species.