Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) in Suburban Landscaping, Delaware, July

Photo of Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis)

View high resolution

Taken on Jul. 7, 2020

This photo shows the typical form and shape of a mature caucasian spruce (Picea orientalis) planted in landscaping in a suburban neighborhood in Delaware.

Note the strongly columnar habit, with the tree being relatively narrow at the base and the spread of the branches being nearly constant for most of the height of the tree, only becoming conical-to-rounded in the crown. Note also that the tree has retained dense, lush foliage the whole way to the ground. This lushness reflects a combination of shade-tolerance of this species (i.e. that lower branches do not die when shaded out by upper ones) and general tolerance to environmental conditions here. I.e. although this species is not necessarily well-adapted to this climate, it does not appear to suffer the sort of drought stress that often causes trees to drop lower branches.

Overall, individuals of this species in this area tend to look healthier, more lush and full, than individuals of the more widely-planted Norway spruce (Picea abies). That species also has a very different shape, broader at the base and more pyramidal to conical over its whole length. Perhaps owing to its more northerly distribution and lesser tolerance of hot, dry conditions that sometimes hit in this region of North America, that species also tends to develop thinner, more sickly looking foliage on its branches on many individuals.