Gold Drift Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Gold Drift'
Height: 10 feet
Spread: 7 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Other Names: Norwegian Spruce
Description:
This fine, weeping selection forms a pendulous upright form when trained to shape, or untrained , forms a cascading mound; brilliant golden-yellow new foliage; slow growing; excellent choice for a small-scale accent in the garden or massed in borders
Ornamental Features
Gold Drift Norway Spruce is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its highly ornamental weeping form. It has gold-variegated dark green foliage which emerges yellow in spring. The needles remain dark green throughout the winter.
Landscape Attributes
Gold Drift Norway Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a rounded form and gracefully weeping branches. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.
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.
Gold Drift Norway Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Vertical Accent
- Mass Planting
- Hedges/Screening
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Gold Drift Norway Spruce will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. 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 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.
