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Key characteristics

Family: Pinaceae
Height: 1 to 2 ft
Width: 2 to 3 ft
Flower color: None; forms small cones
Foliage color: Medium-dark green evergreen needles
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Average
Maintenance: Low; virtually no pruning required
Growing zone: USDA zones 3 to 7
Wildlife: Dense foliage provides year-round cover and shelter for small birds and wildlife; seed cones may provide occasional food for birds or small mammals

Shrubs

Picea abies 'Pusch'

Pusch Norway Spruce

Picea abies 'Pusch' is a dwarf evergreen conifer forming a dense, irregular mound of bright to dark green needles on many short shoots. In spring, its new growth is decorated with numerous small, upright cones that emerge vivid red to purple-red at the tips of the branches. These cones gradually turn rich brown and remain on the plant, so the shrub carries decorative cones against the foliage for much of the year.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Average

Bloom time

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Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Borders
Rock Gardens
Bird Gardens

Companion plants

Oleaster · Mexican orange blossom · Sneezeweed · Black-eyed Susan · Sea thrift · Common sage

Design tip

Make the spring cone display the visual focus of ‘Pusch,’ when vivid red to purple-red cones punctuate the dense green foliage. As the cones mature to brown and persist, they continue to add texture and detail well beyond the initial spring display.