Picea orientalis 'Gowdy' B&B/CT 24-30"
This oriental spruce is a low maintenance evergreen that provides winter interest with its non-flowering blooms. With a height of 6-10 feet and spread of 3-6 feet, it's perfect for full sun areas in zones 4-7. Keep it watered at a medium level for optimal growth.
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Prefers rich, moist soils, but tolerates some poor soils including rocky ones. Although established plants have some drought tolerance, soils should be kept consistently moist and not allowed to dry out in the early years. Generally prefers cool climates and will usually struggle in the heat and humidity of the deep South. Site in locations protected from strong winter winds when growing in the northern parts of the growing range (USDA Zone 4).
Noteworthy Characteristics
Picea orientalis, commonly called oriental spruce, is a medium to large, densely-branched, narrow-pyramidal evergreen conifer that typically grows in cultivation to 50-70' tall. It is native to mountain areas from the Caucasus to Turkey. Flattened, glossy, dark green needles (to 1/2" long) are shorter than the needles of other species of spruce. Small pollen bearing (male) cones are red. Seed bearing (female) cones (to 4" long) are purple maturing to brown. Bark may exfoliate with age.
Genus name is reportedly derived from the Latin word pix meaning "pitch" in reference to the sticky resin typically found in spruce bark.
Specific epithet means of the Orient.
'Gowdy' is a slow-growing, narrow, upright, columnar form that typically grows to 4-6' tall and to 3-4' wide over the first 10 years, eventually maturing to 8-10' tall. Glossy dark green foliage.