Picea abies 'Aarburg' / Aarburg Norway spruce

Picea abies 'Aarburg' is a truly bizarre, twisted, weeping wonder. Overall, its form is upright, but tends to meander as it finds its way skyward. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 12 to 15 feet (4 - 5 m) tall, an annual growth rate of 15 to 18 inches (37 - 45 cm), sometimes upward, sometimes outward. Needles are typical dark-green for the species, but at 0.32 to 0.6 inch (8 - 15 mm), they are somewhat shorter.

This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in 1965 by Andreas Haller Nursery of Aarburg, Switzerland. This plant makes a very strong statement in a large landscape or arboretum.

Picea abies 'Aarburg' — a relatively young plant in an arboretum setting.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Aarburg' — a closeup of foliage and branch detail.
Photo by Bill Barger

Comments

Rodger Inglis

My tree is planted on a south slope in poor sandy soil about 50 feet from a Black Walnut tree. It is only 20 feet tall despite being planted 35 years ago. In the last years I put 5 inches of cedar mulch from one foot outside the drip line to almost the bole of the tree. It's present rate of growth is 6 inches a year. I have not observed any diseases or insect predation.

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