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Key characteristics

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

Shrubs

Picea abies 'Perry's Gold'

Perry's Gold Norway Spruce

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.

Light

Full sun

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring

Find this plant

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.