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Spruce Canadian, White or Gray (Picea glauca) is a coniferous tree belonging to the genus Spruce (Picea) from the Pine family (Pinaceae). It is a typical mountain plant that is native to Canada and the northern United States.
Much more than the species Canadian spruce is known for its numerous varieties. They are widespread on all continents, and due to their high decorativeness, they are grown even in unsuitable conditions.
Description of the Canadian Spruce
The specific Canadian Spruce is a tall tree up to 15-20 m, with a crown spreading 0.6-1.2 m.Under favorable conditions, the plant can stretch up to 40 m, and the trunk girth is 1 m. The branches of young trees are directed upwards under angle, descend with age, forming a narrow cone.
The needles on the side facing the light are bluish-green, below - bluish-white. It is because of this color that the Canadian Spruce received other names - Sizaya or White. The cross section of the needles is rhombic, the length is from 12 to 20 mm. The aroma of the needles is similar to that of blackcurrant.
Flowering occurs in late spring, male cones are yellow or red in color. Female cones are green at first, brown when ripe, up to 6 cm long, located at the ends of the shoots, cylindrical, rounded at both ends. Black seeds up to 3 mm long with a beige wing 5-8 mm in size remain viable for no more than 4 years.
The bark is scaly and thin, the root system is powerful, spreads in breadth. The species is extremely frost-hardy, but it does not tolerate gas pollution in the air. Withstands short-term droughts, heavy snowfalls and winds. Lives for about 500 years.
Variety of gray spruce
It is believed that in terms of decorativeness, the Canadian Spruce is second only to the Thorn. Its dwarf varieties obtained as a result of various mutations have acquired the greatest distribution and fame. An example of using generative changes spanning the whole plant is famous Konica.
Due to somatic mutations affecting a part of the body and causing the appearance of "witch's brooms", rounded shapes are distinguished. So it appeared cushion grade Ehiniformis.
Sometimes the mutation of Canadian spruce is prone to reversion when the decorative properties are not dominant. Then the variety can only be propagated by grafting. In domestic nurseries they began to be engaged in them recently, so they are not able to saturate the market. Most of these trees come from abroad and are expensive.
Weeping forms reproduce only by vaccinations, for example, very beautiful variety Pendula.
Usually, all varieties of Canadian spruce are considered sissies, requiring protection from the sun, not only in hot summers, but also in late winter or spring. This is true and gives a lot of headaches to landscape designers and gardeners. The first should place the Canadian spruce not only so that it decorates the site, but also under the cover of other plants. The latter are forced to constantly cultivate the tree with epin and carry out sprinkling, but the “ungrateful” culture still burns out.
New Sanders Blue variety not only easier to care for due to greater resistance to the sun than other cultivars, but also has an original needles. In spring it is blue, during the season it changes color to green, and not evenly, but in large areas, which makes it seem that the tree is covered with spots of different colors.
The lifespan of the Belaya Spruce varieties is much shorter than that of the species plant. Even with good care, you should not expect them to beautify the site for longer than 50-60 years.
Canadian spruce Maygold
There are many dwarf varieties derived from the mutation of the most popular - Koniki. It was during the observation of her seedlings that branches or whole trees with deviations from the norm were found. This is how the Canadian spruce variety Maygold appeared.
A small tree with a pyramidal crown, by the age of 10 it reaches 1 m, each season increases by 6-10 cm.The Canadian Maygold spruce is very similar to Rainbow End variety.
The main difference is the color of the young needles. At Rainbows End, it is first creamy white, then turns yellow, and then green. The Maygold variety is characterized by golden young needles. They turn dark green over time. But the color change is uneven. First, the lower part of the Maygold turns green, and only then changes affect the top.
The needles are dense, short - no longer than 1 cm, cones appear very rarely. The root system is powerful, it grows in a horizontal plane.
Spruce glauka Densat
Spruce Sizaya is represented on the market not only by dwarf varieties. For large to medium-sized parcels, public parks and gardens, the Densat variety discovered in North Dakota (USA) around 1933 is recommended. It is called the spruce of the Black Hills, and was previously considered a separate species.
An adult Densata (after 30 years) has a height of about 4.5-7 m, sometimes reaching 18 m at home.In Russia, a tree, even with the best care, is unlikely to rise more than 5 m.Densata differs from a species plant:
- smaller size;
- dense crown;
- slow growth;
- bright blue-green needles;
- shortened cones.
Unlike other varieties, this one, although it is by no means dwarf in size, lives for a long time and can reproduce by seeds.
Canadian spruce Yalako Gold
Dwarf spruce glauka Yalako Gold is a highly decorative variety with a rounded crown. It grows very slowly, reaching a diameter of 40 cm by 10 years.This variety is very similar to Canadian spruce Alberta Globe.
But its young needles have a golden color, which looks especially decorative against the background of old bright green needles. Up to 10 years old, the crown of Yalako Gold resembles a ball, then it begins to gradually creep to the sides, and by the age of 30 it becomes like a nest 60-80 cm high, up to 1 m wide.
Spruce glauka Laurin
One of the most common Koniki mutations in European countries is the Laurin variety. It differs from the original form in extremely slow growth - from 1.5 to 2.5 cm per season. By the age of 10, the tree is stretched only 40 cm, at 30 it does not reach more than 1.5 m. In Russia, like all varieties of Canadian spruce, it grows even less.
The shoots of Laurin are directed upwards, tightly pressed against each other and have short internodes. Its crown looks narrow even when compared to other conical varieties. The needles are green, soft, 5-10 mm long.
In the photo of the Canadian spruce Laurin, you can see how tightly the branches adhere to each other.
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Canadian spruce Piccolo
A dwarf slow-growing variety of Canadian spruce Piccolo by the age of 10 in Russia reaches 80-100 cm. In Europe, it can stretch up to 1.5 m. The needles of Piccolo are much denser than those of the original form - Konica. It is quite tough, the young growth is emerald, with age the needles turn dark green.
Crohn of the correct pyramidal shape. The Piccolo variety, except for the color of the needles, is very similar to Daisy White.
Today, Piccolo is one of the most expensive varieties of gray spruce.
Conclusion
Canadian spruce is a popular species that has produced many interesting varieties. The most famous are dwarf ones, such as Konica and its slow-growing cultivars with a rounded or conical crown, cream, golden, blue and emerald growth. But medium-sized varieties and rare weeping forms are also of high decorative value.
