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Picea omorika

Picea omorika

Serbian Spruce, Pančić spruce

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Description

Picea omorika (Serbian spruce) is a medium-sized, evergreen conifer with a pronounced columnar growth habit that can reach a height of around twenty to thirty metres, four metres wide. It was discovered and first described in 1875 by Josif Pančić, the founder of Serbian botany, and later by Czech botanist Emanuel von Purkynĕ. Before the last ice age Picea omorika was far more widespread in Europe. Today, its natural range is very much confined to the limestone cliffs of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and is endangered. Here, Serbian spruce grows alongside Fagus sylvatica, Ostrya carpinifolia, Pinus nigra and Picea abies. It is used as an ornamental tree and as a source of timber and also grown commercially as a Christmas tree. 

The needles of Picea omorika are short, flat, dark green and greyish on the underside thanks to the two white stripes, giving the tree a silvery appearance. The decorative cones are egg-shaped/conical and have a beautiful purple colour when young and remain hanging on the tree for a long time. The seeds are distributed by the wind. It is a single-stem tree with a stunning columnar growth habit with strictly weeping branches and upwardly ascending tips. The bark is russet brown and peels off in greyish platelets.

Picea omorika is a magnificent, highly ornamental tree with a very striking, spire-like growth habit. Serbian spruce is suitable for medium-sized to larger gardens and parks but can also be planted in small spaces although is best admired from a distance. It grows just as well on acidic and alkaline soils and both sandy and rocky ground. Harsh winters and shade are not a problem for this tree.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees feathered trees conifers

Use

Location

park large garden cemetery traffic areas, industrial zones countryside

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

shade-tolerant

Characteristics

Crown shape

columnar columnar narrow pyramidal narrow pyramidal

Crown structure

dense dense

Height

20 - 30 m

Width

2 - 4 m

Winter hardiness zone

4A - 8B

Aspects

Wind

intolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty heavy clay light clay sand loamy soil all soils

Nutrient level

low in nutrients moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade shade

pH range

acidic neutral alkaline

Host plant/forage plant

birds owls small mammals

Extreme environments

tolerates air pollution

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Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Picea omorika? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
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Photos

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high-stem standard tree
Picea omorika standard tree
feathered feathered
Picea omorika feathered
feathered feathered
Picea omorika feathered
feathered feathered
Picea omorika feathered
leaves leaves
Picea omorika leaves
leaves leaves
Picea omorika leaves
fruits fruits
Picea omorika fruits
fruits fruits
Picea omorika fruits
bark bark
Picea omorika bark

Seasonal colours

Picea omorika seizoenskleur
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flowers

Flowers

raceme pendulous

Flower colour

red-violet

Flowering period

May

Leaves

Leaf colour

dark green underside grey-green

Leaves

evergreen needles or scales short needles small scented

Fruits

Fruit colour

wine red red-violet violet

Fruits

striking cones

Bark

Bark colour

brown grey

Bark

peeling smooth

Twigs

Twig colour

brown

Twigs

bare horizontal branches pendulous

Root system

Root system

shallow

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Location
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OK
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Aspects
Wind
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Soil
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Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
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Light requirements
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PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
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December
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Winter hardiness

A plant's winter hardiness is the coldest area in which it is frost-resistant. This is based on the average annual minimum temperature. Winter hardiness zones are thirteen different frost zones in steps of 5.5 degrees Celsius. This format is an international standard for the hardiness of plants. The zones in which the plant is frost-resistant are always included in the description of trees and other vegetation.

Winter hardiness is a genetic characteristic and is not influenced by the location in which the plant is cultivated. This means that a plant that has been cultivated for many years in winter-hardiness zone 6 but has a winter hardiness of 3 is perfectly suited for replanting in a colder zone. It will thrive there thanks to its genetic characteristics.

When choosing planting for a project, the winter hardiness of the plants is extremely important. By choosing species that match the zone in which the project is being created, it is possible to ensure that plants can withstand the minimum temperature in that area.

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