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Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce

Picea abies 'Humphrey's Gem'

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Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce (Picea abies 'Humphrey's Gem') at Westwood Gardens

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce (Picea abies 'Humphrey's Gem') at Westwood Gardens

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce foliage

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  12 inches

Spread:  12 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Other Names:  Norwegian Spruce

Description:

A truly miniature spruce forming a tight dense mounded globe with attractive bright green foliage; excellent choice for a rock garden, garden accent, or container specimen in an open sunny location

Ornamental Features

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental globe-shaped form. It has light green evergreen foliage which emerges lime green in spring. The needles remain light green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Humphrey's Gem Norway Spruce makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing the canvas against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Container 
Applications
Texture  Plant Form  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features