Weeping White Spruce

Our landscapes are full of evergreen trees like the White Spruce and many of its closely related sub-species. However, you will be hard pressed to find another like the Weeping White Spruce, Pendula. This elegant tree is gorgeous and versatile, as well as highly adaptable to a multitude of harsh climate conditions. Its slim shape makes it a sensible choice to add to areas of your garden that may have limited space but need a strong vertical element. Pendula’s branches are held tightly to its trunk and curve to just above the ground. These trees can be enjoyed through all of their dramatic seasonal changes, and will give delight for many years to come thanks to their long life spans.

Even though the Weeping White Spruce has been around for quite some time, it was only rediscovered in 1982 by Jean Iseli of the Morton Arboretum in Illinois. Iseli was known in the 1980s for his love of the dwarf conifers, and wanted to bring his enjoyment to the homes of every gardener. The Pendula variety of the white spruce was a perfect example to introduce to home gardeners, and helped get them excited about the many benefits such a tree can bring to an unimpressive space.

Growing Weeping White Spruce Trees

The Weeping White Spruce grows quite quickly, reaching ten feet in its first ten years. Even though it can reach upwards of 50 feet in ideal or wild conditions, the tree still retains its tight diameter its entire life. The soft evergreen needles of Pendula stay close to its trunk, while the branches sweep elegantly downwards to ground level. The needles emerge in the spring as a light green and then change slowly throughout the summer to a gentle shade of either blue-green or grey-blue.

Small cones form on the tips of the branches providing additional visual decorations. These cones will also attract many forms of small wildlife, including birds and chipmunks. The fine needles, tiny cones and weeping branches sets this particular tree apart from other plants in the garden that may have coarser or darker foliage.

Hardiness and Climate

Found primarily in more northern locations throughout the United States and Canada, the Weeping White Spruce is unusually adaptable to even warmer climates such as Georgia or Arkansas. It is suitable for locations in USDA plant hardiness zones 2 to 7. Even though the tree is adaptable to many different soil conditions, it does prefer loamy or sandy soils that are adequately moist throughout the year. The weeping white spruce is not particular about pH levels but it should not be allowed to dry out. If you are expecting many days without rain you will want to ensure that the tree’s roots stay moist; a thick layer of mulch will help here.

As the White Weeping Spruce is capable of tolerating temperatures as low as -50° Fahrenheit, you won’t have to worry too much about it even in the most extreme winter conditions. Unusual cold snaps are often unpredictable in many of the northern states and Canada, but the Pendula is a very hardy tree and should be able to make it through several days of extremely low temperatures. If your area is prone to dangerously low temperatures you may want to ensure that your spruce is planted in a location that can offer some protections against the elements.

Sun Exposure

The Pendula variety prefers at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Even though it will tolerate partial shade, choosing a location with most of the daylight sun directly on it will make the Pendula a very happy tree!

Care and Maintenance

Pendula are very low maintenance trees and require little attention over the course of their lives. Occasionally you may want to trim back any new growth if you want to keep the tree in a uniform and aesthetically pleasing shape; otherwise removal of any dead or dying branches is the most this tree will ever require. It is extremely resistant to nearly all potential insect pests that may affect other trees of similar shape or size.

When deciding what trees you are going to plant in your garden, this can be a very important factor to consider. Other trees are more susceptible to insect infestations or certain diseases and often it can cost quite a lot of money to repair damage caused by them. The Weeping White Spruce is an exceptional choice if you want to reduce this particular hazard.

Adding Weeping White Spruce Trees to Your Property

As you can see the Pendula spruce is going to bring a real touch of beauty to your landscape design, and will enhance the area around it even as it draws the eye. Its unique shape and color, as well as its low level of maintenance requirements, mean that you will have a beautiful and hassle-free life time of enjoyment with this special tree. If you have any questions about the White Weeping Spruce, please feel free to call us at 1-888-329-0140 and any of our experienced staff would be more than happy to help you.