Picea glauca Sun on the Sky - White Spruce

Picea glauca 'Sun on the Sky' is a dwarf variety of white spruce forming a magnificent small bush with a perfectly conical habit. Its dense foliage is composed of short and erect, bluish-green needles during summer. In spring, the young shoots have a buttery yellow hue, transcending its usual appearance. Its slow growth and limited development make it suitable for rock gardens, provided that the soil retains some moisture, as it does not like drought. It will also be well placed in a Japanese or contemporary garden, where its well-defined architectural form will be a real attraction.

Picea glauca, also known as White Spruce or Glaucous Spruce, is an evergreen conifer native to Canada. It belongs to the Pinaceae family, like Cedars, Firs, Pines, and Larches. In its natural environment, it grows slowly, and has a quite variable habit 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 'Sun on the Sky' variety, derived from this species, is a dwarf form with a compact, conical habit. Its growth is slow; it will reach about 1m (3ft) in height with a width of 50cm (20in) after 10 years, which is practically its adult size. It produces short, dense branches covered with fine, short, prickly needles, with a slightly bluish-green colour. In spring, the young shoots display a particularly bright buttery yellow colour. Covering the entire surface of the bush, these young yellow needles give it a completely different appearance than the rest of the year, adding to the aesthetic appeal of its sculptural habit.

Very hardy, tolerating extreme cold down to -40°C (-40°F), this small white spruce grows in acidic to neutral soil, retaining some moisture but well-drained. It can withstand short dry periods. Its root system is shallow, highly branched, and spreading, making it difficult to transplant when mature, and particularly sensitive to wind (for larger specimens).

With its attractive conical habit, reduced development, undemanding nature, and ease of cultivation, it is ideal for rock gardens and container terraces. In the latter case, regular watering should be provided, especially in summer, as the conditions in pots are more challenging than in open ground. In open ground, it thrives in many situations, as long as the soil is well-drained and not too chalky. This conical plant goes well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry works, and it will be particularly well placed in a contemporary garden, where its architectural nature will be enhanced. In this context, associate it with topiary plants. Play with colour combinations by planting alongside shrubs with changing colours, such as the aptly named small Berberis thunbergii 'Admiration', with purple foliage edged in yellow that turns to orange-red in autumn. In acidic soil, also bet on Pieris japonica 'Little Heath', a Japanese Andromeda with pink spring shoots that will contrast well with the yellow of 'Sun on the Sky', then with summer foliage edged in white that will blend perfectly with the bluish-green of our little spruce. And to cover the ground at its feet, a Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip' with bluish foliage will have a great effect.