Picea glauca Rainbows End - White Spruce

Picea glauca 'Rainbow's End' is a variety of white spruce with a conical and wide habit, and a very neat appearance. Its compact silhouette is accompanied by dense foliage, with short needles of a tender green shade in spring, and a golden second summer growth contrasting with the mature, dark green foliage. Slow-growing, this compact variety of moderate size is perfectly suited for small gardens. It thrives in rockeries and borders, and performs well in pots. It is a low-maintenance conifer that prefers well-drained, moist, slightly acidic soils and a sunny exposure.

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

The 'Rainbow's End' variety, derived from this species, is a medium-sized form with a compact, conical, fairly wide and regular habit. Its growth is slow. After 10 years, it will reach a height of 1.2m (4ft) and a spread of 90cm (35in), sometimes more depending on growing conditions. Ultimately, it will measure approximately 3m (10ft) in height and have a 2m (7ft) spread at the base. It produces short and tight branches, covered with short and quadrangular needles arranged in brushes, which are very sharp and aromatic (acrid resin smell). They are covered with a white wax. Its young spring shoots are distinctly tender green, and then a second burst of foliage emerges in a golden yellow hue that illuminates the old shiny dark green foliage. The root system of white spruce is shallow, highly branched and creeping, making them difficult to transplant when mature and particularly sensitive to wind.

With its modest growth, undemanding nature, and ease of cultivation, it is ideal for small gardens, rockeries, terraces, or for solitary planting. It thrives in many situations, as long as the soil is cool, well-drained, and not too alkaline. This plant pairs well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry works. It can be planted with dwarf conifers with a prostrate habit (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'), globular habit (Picea glauca 'Alberta Globe'), columnar or upright habit. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally suit the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the fleeting beauty of flowers. With their reassuring permanence, these plants durably structure a bed. They can mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They blend well with heathers or ground cover plants such as aubrietas, cerastium, shrubby salvias, as well as flowering shrubs. The key is to play with volumes and colours.