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Picea purpurea

purple-coned spruce

A columnar, coniferous tree to 20m, with flaky, orange-brown bark and glossy green needles, grey-white beneath. It produces ovoid, purple, later purple-brown seed cones to 4cm long

Synonyms
Picea likiangensis var. purpurea
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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Pinaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Picea are evergreen trees with rigid, needle-like leaves arranged singly all round the shoots, and narrow, leathery-scaled cones borne near the ends of the shoots

Name status

Correct

Plant range
N.W. China

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any deep, moist but well-drained, ideally neutral to acid soil in full sun. See conifer cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, grafting or hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to adelgids, red spider mite and conifer aphid

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

Get involved

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