'Skylands' is a yellow-needled cultivar that grows to around 8'-10' tall in 10 years with an erect, conical to pyramidal habit. It can eventually reach 35' feet but it takes a long time. The exterior needles are showy bright yellow in the spring when the plant is in full sun and a more subtle green-yellow in the shade. As the summer progresses the needle color does fade regardless of sun exposure. Interior needles remain green the entire time. In hot climates like the south, needles can burn in the full sun. Showy red pollen cones appear in the spring and are attractive against the yellow needles. It makes an excellent accent or specimen plant providing great winter interest in the landscape. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : Potential problems include needle cast, cankers, bagworms, and mites. More information on Picea orientalis .
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.
Fills a similar nicheChamaecyparis pisifera 'Sungold'Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast'x Hesperotropsis leylandii 'Reco'
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)
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
Mature size
Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Erect; Pyramidal
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Needles are bright yellow when in full sun and green-yellow in partial shade.
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Red pollen cones are showy and appear in the spring.