Every gardener has a plant they pine for. In my case, it's a spruce. I've encountered Picea abies 'Acrocona' during several trips to Minnesota. Alas, it's just not suited to my hot North Texas climate. But for USDA Hardiness Zones 3-6, this Norway spruce is a real winner. 'Acrocona' can grow to be quite large, but typically stays compact in landscapes. It has graceful, drooping branches and eventually reaches 10 feet high and 12 feet wide. "It's not a dwarf," said Jock Demme, sales manager and horticulturist at Iseli Nursery in Boring, Ore. "It's classified as an intermediate. It becomes a broad-based pyramid. The unusual thing about it is the cones. It cones prolifically and they're borne on the tips of the branches. When the cones come out they're bright and showy." Purple-red cones emerge in early spring, turning brown later in the year. The cones contrast well with the tree's dark-green, 1-inch needles.

Rich history

'Acrocona' might not be well known, but it's been around for some time. "We've been growing it for a number of years," Demme said. "It's not a brand-new cultivar. It came out of Sweden back in the 1890s. It has mostly existed in collectors' gardens and botanic gardens." The tree's rich history doesn't make it a museum piece, though. Demme said it's becoming more popular, like many other conifers. The consumer press has put the spotlight on evergreens in recent years, highlighting their ability to perk up drab winter landscapes. "If a garden is reasonably well-appointed with conifers, it's going to look good all year round," Demme said. "You'll have color, texture and form." Iseli Nursery offers 'Acrocona' in No. 3, 6 and 10 pots and No. 20 cedar boxes. It takes about five years to achieve a salable No. 3 specimen. "It doesn't grow up overnight, but you don't have to wait forever for it either," Demme said. The trees are relatively easy to produce and don't have serious insect or disease problems. 'Acrocona' is also fairly carefree once it's placed in a landscape. Full sun is best. Adequate moisture will help it achieve its full annual growth rate of 18 inches. Demme recommended feeding the tree once a year with a slow-release conifer formulation.

-- Sarah Martinez

SPECIFICS:
Name: Picea abies 'Acrocona'
Common name: Acrocona Norway spruce.
Family: Pinaceae.
Description: Small tree or large shrub with a pyramidal growth habit. Eye-catching purple-red cones appear in early spring.
Propagation: Grafting.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-6.
Uses: Unusual specimen tree/shrub suitable for smaller home lots.
For more: Iseli Nursery, (503) 663-3822; www.iseli-nursery.com.

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© 2007 Branch-Smith Publishing