Picea abies Little Gem - Norway Spruce
Picea abies Little Gem - Norway Spruce
Picea abies Little Gem - Norway Spruce
Picea abies Little Gem
Norway Spruce, Common Spruce, European Spruce
This little dwarf spruce is doing so well in my garden that I bought another one. It's a beautiful ball-shaped plant that works wonders in my rock garden or catches the eye when planted at the edge of a flower bed.
Beatrice, 30/09/2025
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Description
Picea abies 'Little Gem' is a dwarf variety of common spruce that resembles a small, round and compact cushion, forming an almost perfect ball. It spreads over time, displaying short branches covered with dense, light green and vibrant foliage. It is highly ornamental, its small silhouette elegantly fitting into flower beds, enlivening rockeries or standing out in pots on the terrace. It has very slow growth and is easy to cultivate in ordinary, well-drained soil which is not too dry, in full sun or partial shade.
The Picea abies, also known as the Norway spruce or red spruce, is an evergreen conifer belonging to the pine family (Pinaceae), native to northern Europe, specifically Scandinavia. In its natural environment, it has a typically conical and pyramidal shape and can reach a height of 30 m (98 ft 5 in). This species is traditionally used as a Christmas tree in Europe. It prefers well-drained and cool soils and is happy in very low temperatures.
The 'Little Gem' variety, derived from this species, is a dwarf form with a compact, rounded and spreading habit. Its growth is very slow. Eventually, it will reach 30 cm (11.8 in) in height and approximately 50 to 60 cm (19.7 to 23.6 in) in diameter. It produces short and tightly packed branches, densely covered with very short, brush-like needles. The reddish-brown winter cones are highly decorative. Its young spring shoots are a very tender and bright green, then its foliage takes on a uniformly vibrant green. The root system of spruces is shallow and spreading, making them difficult to transplant when mature and particularly sensitive to wind.
The 'Little Gem' Spruce, with its attractive rounded shape, very compact growth, low maintenance, and ease of cultivation, is a perfect plant for rockeries and terraces. It pairs well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry. It can be combined with columnar or upright dwarf conifers. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over flowers. They go well with heathers or ground-cover plants such as aubrietas, cerastiums and shrubby salvias, as well as flowering shrubs.
Picea abies Little Gem - Norway Spruce in pictures
Plant habit
Foliage
Botanical data
Picea
abies
Little Gem
Pinaceae
Norway Spruce, Common Spruce, European Spruce
Cultivar or hybrid
Planting and care
Picea abies 'Little Gem' should be planted from September to November and from February to June in deep, well-drained, light, neutral or slightly acidic, and occasionally moist to dry soil. A sandy or rocky soil that is not too chalky will be perfect. Choose a very sunny or partly shady spot, sheltered from prevailing winds. Soak the root ball well before planting. Add organic fertilizer at planting and water generously in the first few years, and during prolonged dry periods. Apply a special conifer fertilizer every year in April and weed the soil in summer. This extremely hardy plant dislikes heavy, waterlogged soils in winter. Pruning is not necessary as this plant expresses its full potential when allowed to grow freely.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.