Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Picea abies 'Acro-Yellow'
Acro-Yellow Norway Spruce
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Height
- 4 ft to 6 ft
- Width
- 3 ft to 5 ft
- Flower color
- Rosy red immature cones maturing to tan
- Foliage color
- Bright yellow new growth maturing to green with rosy red young cones
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; prune selectively only as needed to maintain shape and remove damaged branches
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 7
- Wildlife
- Songbirds and small mammals feed on seeds with branches providing shelter
About this plant
Picea abies 'Acro-Yellow' features short needles that emerge bright yellow in spring before gradually softening to green, creating a colorful evergreen canopy. Dense branching highlights the luminous new growth, while mature foliage provides a deeper backdrop. Small reddish female cones and yellow pollen cones appear in spring, contributing subtle seasonal interest among the needles. The persistent foliage maintains its character through winter, bringing structure and color to the landscape.
Selected from the Norway spruce, a species native to northern and central Europe, this cultivar was chosen for its ornamental qualities and vibrant spring growth. Its changing foliage colors and compact habit lend themselves to rock gardens, conifer collections, and mixed borders, where texture and year-round interest are especially valued.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Borders · Rock Gardens · Bird Gardens
Companion plants
Gaura · Weigela · Salvia · Baptisia · Lilies · Mexican feather grass
Design tip
Position ‘Acro-Yellow’ where its spring growth can be viewed against its own darker mature foliage, emphasizing the transition from luminous yellow to green. Its persistent needles and dense branching allow the plant to retain a strong structural presence after the bright spring color has faded.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at The Oregon Garden.
