General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Wet
Wet Mesic
Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Soil pH Preferences: Strongly acid (5.1 – 5.5)
Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 7a
Plant Height: 15-25 feet
Plant Spread: Spread is typically 2/3 the height, or 10-16 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Needled
Fruit: Other: female cones with papery or thin woody scales
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Winter
Flowers: Other: soft male cones
Flower Time: Spring
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Provides winter interest
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Can handle transplanting
Other info: Seeds are inside cones
Pollinators: Wind
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Snake Branch Spruce
  • Norway Spruce
  • Spruce

Photo Gallery
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2021-05-29
Picea abies 'Virgata' - A typical grouping of pendulous branches,
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2021-05-29
Picea abies 'Virgata' - Young female cone.  These cones are large
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-28
Picea abies 'Virgata' - Standing under the branches of this tree
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-28
Picea abies 'Virgata' - The base of the massive trunk of this tre
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-28
Picea abies 'Virgata' - Taken standing near the base and looking
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-28
Picea abies 'Virgata' - Near the base of this tree, the bark is c
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-28
Picea abies 'Virgata' - This tree is one of the founding specimen
Location: Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-28
Picea abies 'Virgata' - typical needle distribution.  Needles are

Photo by Leo Michels
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04

Photo by Leo Michels
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04
Location: Michigan State University Hidden Lake Garden, Tipton, MI
Date: 2012-02-04
Comments:
  • Posted by arctangent (Ann Arbor, Michigan - Zone 6a) on Oct 6, 2020 4:58 PM concerning plant:
    The primary landscape attraction of this cultivar is the growth habit of producing long pendulous branches that cascade down from irregularly arranged main branches. These drooping branches are said to have a snake-like appearance, lacking any side branches of their own.

« Add a new plant to the database

» Search the Spruces Database: by characteristics or by cultivar name

« See the general plant entry for Spruces (Picea)

« The Spruces Database Front Page

« The Plants Database Front Page