2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09
Miniature thorny spruces are very popular with country house owners. The cultivar "Edith" (Picea pungens Edith) has won a special love of gardeners. This is a beautiful evergreen plant with graceful blue needles of a silvery shade. An unpretentious variety is widely used in landscape design.
Description
According to historical information, the beautiful variety "Edith" was bred in the mid-70s of the last century in Poland (the city of Sopot). Elemir Barabitz was the creator of a new type of blue prickly spruce. By the way, the plant is named after his wife. There is an opinion that the Polish breeder used the popular Hoopsie variety as a "source". Many experts believe that "Edith" is precisely the elite form of this variety of prickly spruce, which is distinguished by an elegant, slender crown and magnificent colors of needles. The distinctive features of an evergreen tree include the following.
- Amazing shade of pine needles . Thin blue needles are cast in silver. Experienced gardeners call this variety "the bluest of all blue spruces."
- Tree crown - graceful conical shape, which is famous for its density.
- " Edith", like all thorny spruces, is slow in growth . By the age of ten, the plant reaches a length of 1 to 2 meters. Subsequently, the growth rate increases significantly (up to 30 cm per year). By the age of 20, the evergreen conifer has a height of 5-6 cm. However, this variety is known for its miniature size. Even in mature years, its length does not exceed 10 cm.
An important feature of the "Edith" spruce is its natural ability to "keep" its shape. In this process, the plant is assisted by the shoot-leader, which serves as the basis for the formation of the correct crown. At the age of 6, the Edith spruce begins to be decorated with small cylindrical cones (up to 8 cm) . In the spring, they have a beautiful pinkish tint, which turns into a rich brown over time.
Peculiarities
"Edith" is not afraid of low temperatures and has excellent frost resistance. Also, the ephedra does not suffer from air pollution within the city. Prefers sunny areas, however, is able to grow in a dark place. In open places with a lot of light and heat, the Edith spruce is able to show itself "in all its glory": the crown becomes more magnificent, and the blue shade of the needles is striking in its magnificence. The variety prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soils. Thorny spruce does not tolerate drying out of the soil and needs regular watering. In this case, excess moisture is also undesirable.
Planting rules and care
It is important to prepare the soil first. Spruce prefers light, loose soils that are highly oxygen and moisture permeable. It is also important to have drainage in the planting pit. The rules for planting prickly spruce are as follows.
- Thorny blue spruce is usually planted in spring. However, planting of the Edith variety can also be carried out in the last days of August, when the heat “subsides”.
- The depth of the planting pit is 40-60 cm. When planting in groups, it is necessary to maintain a distance between seedlings of at least 2 meters.
- A drainage layer is laid out at the bottom of the recess.
- Sand, peat and forest soil are suitable for the potting mix.
- In the planting hole, the root system of the plant must be evenly spaced.
- The seedling is covered with soil mixture. The root collar should be flush with the ground.
- After planting, the soil around the plant is watered abundantly and mulched with peat.
Despite its obvious unpretentiousness, the Edith spruce requires a certain amount of care. For example, this variety suffers without regular watering. It is necessary to moisten the soil 1-2 times a week. Young trees should be watered more frequently and abundantly. Conifers also like to “take a shower” with a hose or watering can . In this case, the water should not be ice cold.
As for feeding, the main fertilizer is applied during the planting process. The next top dressing is done a few years later in the spring. In addition, caring for a young tree involves regular loosening of the soil and mulching. Sawdust, dry leaves and peat are used as mulch. Do not forget about sanitary pruning, during which dry, old branches are removed. It is carried out in early spring and late autumn.
Thorny spruce propagates by cuttings, seeds and grafting . Undoubtedly, the easiest option is to buy a young seedling from a proven nursery. It is better for novice gardeners to use a method that involves the propagation of a plant by seeds.
Use in landscape design
This variety is versatile. It is equally good in single plantings and group plantings. Miniature spruces with blue, silver needles are planted within the city and in garden plots. On the adjacent territory, conifers are used as a hedge, and they are also able to "divide" the site into several zones . Note that the evergreen plant does not lose its attractiveness even in winter.
Recommended:
Canadian Spruce "Sanders Blue" (20 Photos): Description Of The Variety Of Gray Spruce, Height Of An Adult Tree, Planting And Care. "Sanders Blue" In Landscape Design
Spruce canadian varieties "Sanders Blue": description. How tall is a mature tree? How are planting and grooming done? How to fertilize? Watering rules. The use of gray spruce in landscape design
Spruce "Super Blue" (10 Photos): Description Of The Variety Of Prickly Blue Spruce. "Super Blue Seedling" In Landscape Design. Height And Characteristics Of An Adult Tree
Spruce "Super Blue" is a selection variety of the American coniferous tree. What is the description of the variety of prickly blue spruce? How to fit and care? How to Use Super Blue Seedling in Landscaping?
Spruce "Lucky Strike" (18 Photos): Description Of The Variety Of Prickly Spruce, Use In Landscape Design. Height, Planting, Care And Reproduction Of "Lucky Strike" Spruce
How can you grow Lucky Strike spruce? What is the description of the variety of prickly spruce? What is the use of spruce in landscaping? What is the height of the decorative tree?
Spruce "Maygold" (12 Photos): Description Of The Variety Of Prickly Spruce. Features Of The Use Of Spruce In Landscape Design, The Height Of An Adult Tree
What you need to know about Maygold spruce? What does the description of this variety of prickly spruce show? What are the features of using spruce in landscape design, how to plant and grow it correctly, what should gardeners pay attention to?
Blue Violet (55 Photos): Blue And Blue Violets "Blue Blood" And "Blue-eyed Russia", "Blue Lagoon" And "Blue Flash", "N-Avatar" And "Blue Danube", Blue Dragon
What are the characteristics of a blue violet? Blue and blue violets - recommendations for choosing. What should you pay attention to? Sorts "Blue Blood" and "Blue-eyed Russia", "Blue Lagoon" and "Blue Flash", "N-Avatar" and "Blue Danube", Blue Dragon. How to take care of them?