Picea glauca Laurin - White Spruce

Dwarf and very compact, the 'Laurin' Picea glauca is a dwarf variety of the white spruce that has a conical and narrow habit, particularly graphic. Its slender silhouette is accompanied by very dense foliage, with short needles of a light green colour in spring, becoming glaucous to bluish in winter. Slow-growing, it is perfectly suited for small gardens, works wonders in rockeries and flower beds, and performs very well in pots. It is a low-maintenance evergreen conifer that prefers well-drained, moist, slightly acidic soils and a sunny exposure.

Picea glauca, also known as the White Spruce, White Spruce, or Glauca Spruce, is an evergreen conifer belonging to the Pinaceae family, native to Canada. In its natural environment, it grows slowly, has a quite variable habit depending on its habitat, but usually conical or pyramidal with a broad base. This tree can reach a height of 25m (82ft). This species is traditionally used for papermaking. It can live for many years (200 years or more).

The 'Laurin' variety, derived from this species, is a dwarf form and particularly elegant, with a very compact, conical, and narrow habit. It has slow growth. After 10 years, it will reach a height of 80cm (32in) and a spread of 50cm (20in), sometimes more in cool and humid climates. Eventually, it will measure about 2m (7ft) in height with a base spread of 70 to 80cm (28 to 32in). It produces short and very tight branches, covered with short and quadrangular needles arranged in brushes, very sharp and aromatic (acrid resin smell). They are covered with a white wax. Its young spring shoots are distinctly light green, then its foliage takes on a darker green colour, with blue reflections giving it a slightly glaucous appearance. The root system of white spruces is shallow, highly branched, and trailing, making them difficult to transplant when mature and particularly sensitive to wind.

The 'Laurin' white spruce, with its perfect habit, reduced development, low maintenance, and ease of cultivation, is a perfect plant for small gardens, rockeries, terraces, or for solitary planting. It thrives in many situations, as long as the soil is well-drained and not too chalky. This plant pairs well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry structures. It can be combined with dwarf conifers with a prostrate habit (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), globose (Picea glauca 'Alberta Globe'), columnar, or upright. The graphic qualities of conifers naturally stand out in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants with reassuring permanence durably structure a flower bed, mark pathways, border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They go well with heathers or ground-cover plants such as aubrietas, Cerastiums, shrubby salvias, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.