Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Picea abies 'Perry's Gold'
Perry's Gold Norway Spruce
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Height
- 4 ft to 6 ft
- Width
- 3 ft to 5 ft
- Flower color
- Reddish spring pollen cones with tan brown seed cones
- Foliage color
- Bright golden yellow new growth maturing to green needles
- 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 'Perry's Gold' features short needles that emerge bright golden yellow in spring before maturing to soft green, creating a richly textured evergreen canopy that provides year-round interest. The dense branching highlights the changing colors of the foliage, while lighter new growth adds warmth and depth through the growing season. Small reddish female cones and yellow pollen cones appear in spring, bringing subtle seasonal interest among the needles and emphasizing the plant's conifer character.
Selected from the Norway spruce, a species native to northern and central Europe, this cultivar was chosen for its colorful new growth and ornamental appeal. Its evergreen structure and changing foliage tones make it well suited to conifer collections, rock gardens, and mixed borders, where it provides texture and visual interest throughout the seasons.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Borders · Rock Gardens · Bird Gardens
Companion plants
Manzanita · California lilac · Poppy · Foxtail lily · Oregano · Globe artichoke
Design tip
Let the golden spring growth provide the seasonal drama, using the plant’s dense evergreen form as a quieter structural element for the rest of the year. The gradual shift from gold to green creates a natural progression of color without relying on flowers for interest.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at The Oregon Garden.
