Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Picea abies 'Pumila'
Dwarf Norway Spruce
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Height
- Typically grows up to 4 feet
- Width
- Spreads 4 to 5 feet
- Flower color
- Not applicable; it is a conifer
- Foliage color
- Dark green needles that emerge light green in spring
- Bloom time
- Not applicable
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; pruning is generally unnecessary except to remove dead growth
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 3 to 7
- Wildlife
- Provides shelter and attracts birds
About this plant
Picea abies 'Pumila' is an evergreen conifer celebrated for its compact, rounded form and vibrant foliage. The plant showcases dense, dark green needles that remain year-round, making it a superb choice for adding consistent color to gardens. Its growth habit features lower branches that spread outward and upper branches that point upwards, creating a unique mounded or nest-like appearance. In the spring, its bright orange buds add a subtle decorative element to its already appealing structure.
This cultivar, derived from the Norway spruce native to Europe, is ideal for small garden spaces, rockeries, and container planting due to its slow growth and manageable size. Though primarily valued for its foliage, Picea abies 'Pumila' provides year-round visual interest with its vibrant green tones and textured form, making it a versatile addition to any landscape design.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Containers · Rock Gardens · Bird Gardens
Companion plants
Hebe · Flowering quince · Crocus · Matilija poppy · Mallow · Sweet William
Design tip
Use ‘Pumila’ as a low evergreen anchor where its rounded, nest-like form can provide structure throughout the year. The outward-spreading lower branches and upward-facing upper growth create a naturally sculptural silhouette that remains visually interesting even during the quietest seasons.
