Woody > Picea > Picea abies > Picea abies 'Virgata'
Picea abies
'Virgata'
Snake Spruce
Origin: Horticultural origin.
Mike's
Opinion
"
The Snake Spruce is an interesting evergreen tree and a popular ornamental. Its long pendulous branches make it a good choice as a specimen tree. It tolerates most soil conditions, salt, urban pollution, and it is drought tolerant which makes it suitable for xeriscaping.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Pinaceae |
| Genus |
| Picea |
| Species |
| abies |
| Cultivar |
| 'Virgata' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 2a–7b |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -37 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -35 |
| Height |
| 10–15 m |
| Spread |
| 4–6 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| The Snake Spruce is a medium sized pyramidal evergreen tree with long, whorled, and sparse branches and pendulous branchlets. |
| Landscape |
| This tree can be used as a specimen in the landscape. |
| Cultivation |
| The Snake Spruce requires full sun and moist soils and needs regular watering, although it is drought tolerant. It can grow in clay, loam, or sandy type soils that are acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline. It also tolerates salt and urban pollution. |
| Shape |
| This tree has a pyramidal form with weeping branches. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| The Snake Spruce can be identified by its long weeping branches that create a snake-like appearance. |
| Pests |
| It is relatively pest and disease free and deer do not like the foliage. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark of this tree is smooth and grey and not particularly outstanding. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves are long dark green needles arranged singly on branches. They are irregular in length and can grow up to 26 mm. |
| Flower Description |
| The flowers are naked male anthers and naked female ovules in between the scales of the cones. They are pink and insignificant when in bloom. |
| Fruit Description |
| Its fruit is an insignificant brown woody cone that is not as prickly as most pine cones. |
| Colour Description |
| The needles are dark green and the bark is grey and they do not develop any autumn colour. |
| Texture Description |
| This tree has a medium overall texture. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Van Dusen Garden, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. |
| Propagation |
| This cultivar is propagated by cuttings and grafting. It does not seed because the flowers are sterile. |
References
Hillier’s Manual of Trees and Shrubs. South Brunswick and New York: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1972.
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