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Nana

Picea omorika (PY-see-uh oh-MOR-ee-kah)

Family: Pinaceae Non-native Canopy (>40 ft)

One of the most attractive and adaptable spruces, this coniferous, evergreen species has thin arching branches and a slender trunk. It grows best in cool climates, with a dry atmosphere and protection from wind. It may not perform well in hot, humid situations, however, it may adapt to those conditions better than many other spruces. There are no serious problems, but may be susceptible to spider mites, aphids, budworms, and borers.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 50 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 1 - Canopy (>40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green; White
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf size
< 1 inch long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Overlapping flat needles, glossy dark green above with 2 white lines on the lower side (silvery underside), sharp-pointed
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Non-showy flowers.
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
Cones have finely toothed scales and hang downward. Young purple cones mature to reddish-brown.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
The thin bark cracks into scaly plates.
Stem detail
Distinctive to this species, the branches are short (up to 6') and pendant. They curl upwards at the ends.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southwestwern Europe
Wildlife value
Attracts birds, provides cover for rabbits and birds.
Attracts
Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Recreational Play Area; Woodland
Design feature
Accent; Mass Planting; Specimen; Street Tree
Garden tags
#evergreen #conifer #deer resistant #air pollution tolerant #winter interest #sandy soils tolerant #showy fruits #clay soils tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Pests of Conifers; Deodar Weevil / Eastern Pine Weevil
Resistant to
Deer

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.