Botanical Name:

Picea omorika

Common Name:

Serbian spruce

Family Name:

Pinaceae – pine family

General Description:

Picea omorika is a slender, graceful evergreen tree that should be used more in the landscape. Though not widely planted, it is highly recommended for use in the Chicago area. It performs well in full sun to light shade and prefers alkaline soils. It is more tolerant of heat, humidity and pollution than many other spruces and once established can withstand occasional drought. Native to Europe, Serbian spruce has one of the smallest ranges of any spruce. It resides in a small area of southern Europe with a population of less than 1000 trees and is considered a vulnerable species in the wild. It is, however, cultivated for landscape use and has several uniquely beautiful cultivars available in the trade.

Zone:

4-7

Resources Consulted:

Davis, Becke. "ILCA Presents-Spruce: A Most Elegant Evergreen." Landscape Contractor January 2003: 41-44. Print.

Dirr, Michael A. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses. Champaign: Stipes, 2009. Print.

"Vanishing Acts Resource Guide: Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika)." Science & Conservation. Morton Arboretum, 2011. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.

Creator:

Julia Fitzpatrick-Cooper, Professor, College of DuPage

Creation Date:

2014

Keywords/Tags:

Pinaceae, tree, conifer, cone, needle, evergreen, Picea omorika, Serbian spruce

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