Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis)
Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) is a conifer that can grow higher than 15m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis).
This plant has several common names including: oriental spruce, eastern spruce or Caucasian spruce.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: oriental spruce, eastern spruce, Caucasian spruce
Scientific name: Picea orientalis
Plant type: Conifers, Trees
Habit: Bushy
Height: Higher than 15m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: Architectural, Informal Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding, Low Maintenance
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) – Karduelis, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Other types of Picea to consider:
See all Picea
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in clay, loam or sand.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
As for pH, it is a plant that grows ideally in soils with pH acid or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Picea orientalis likes to grow in moist but well drained soil.
Sunlight
Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) – Petr Filippov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
