Picea abies 'Gold Drift' / Gold Drift Norway spruce
In the words of legendary plantsman and ACS founder, Bob Fincham, Picea abies 'Gold Drift' is "unlike anything currently available anywhere." This selection is a golden version of Picea abies 'Reflexa' in that, typical of that cultivar, 'Gold Drift' is a strict-weeping, fast growing spruce that will grow skyward if staked while young or will ramble if left on on the ground. After 10 years, a mature specimen will be 12 to 15 feet (4 - 5 m) tall and 2 feet (60 cm) wide (if staked), suggesting an annual rate of growth of 12 inches (30 cm) or more.
This cultivar originated as a golden sport on a specimen of P. abies 'Inversa' found by Bob Fincham in 1990 at Coenosium Gardens, his personal arboretum and former nursery in Eatonville, Washington. Experience has proven that this plant is not ideal for all parts of the country. For example in the southeastern U.S. the sunlight lacks the intensity to bring out proper color. In the western states, on the other hand, the intensity of the sun gives it a propensity to burn when young, a tendency that decreases with age. 'Gold Drift' was one of three plants selected in 2013 for inclusion into the ACS Collectors' Conifer of the Year Program.
Picea abies 'Gold Drift' at Boyko Nursery, Boring Oregon — a fantastic upright specimen.
Photo by David Olszyk
Picea abies 'Gold Drift' at J Farms' display Garden, Amity, Oregon — an example of an unstaked specimen left to ramble.
Photo by unknown
Picea abies 'Gold Drift' — a closeup of foliage detail.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Gold Drift' growing in USDA Zone 7b, April 17, 2019, spring color with cone. Taken in my garden in North Carolina.
Photo by Sandy Horn
Picea abies 'Gold Drift' growing in USDA Zone 7b, April 17, 2019, spring color with cone. Taken in my garden in North Carolina.
Photo by Sandy Horn
Picea abies 'Gold Drift' / Gold Drift Norway spruce
RECOMMENDED HARDINESS ZONES:
4 (-20 to -30 F / -28.9 to -34.4 C)
HORTICULTURAL STATUS: Established
COLOR: Yellow or Gold
TRINOMIAL TYPE: Cultivar
GROWTH SHAPE: Upright Weeping
GROWTH SIZE: Large: greater than 12 inches (30 cm) per year / greater than 12 feet (4 m) after 10 years
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Explore other Picea abies trinomial
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Picea abies 'Aarburg' / Aarburg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Acro-yellow' / Acro-yellow Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Acrocona' / Acrocona Norway spruce
Picea abies var. acuminata
Picea abies 'Acutissima' / Acutest Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Ami' / Ami Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Araucarioides' / Araucarioides Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Archer' / Archer Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Argenteospica' / Silvertip Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Arnold Dwarf' / Arnold Dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Arnold Special' / Arnold Special Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Aspen Grove No. 3' / Aspen Grove No. 3 Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Aurea' / Golden Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Aurea Jakobsen' / Jakobsen's golden Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Aurea Magnifica' / magnificent golden Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Aurescens' / yellowing Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Bago' / Bago Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Bally' / Bally Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Barryi' / Barry's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Beissneri' / Beissner's Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Bennett's Miniature' / Bennett's Miniature Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Berry Gardens' / Berry Gardens Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Blatný' / Blatný Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Bönitz' / Bönitz Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Brevifolia' / Short-leafed Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Brno' / Brno Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Calvary Spreader' / Calvary Spreader Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Calvary Upright' / Calvary Upright Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Capitata' / Capitating Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Ceejay's Gem' / Ceejay's Gem Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Chrudim' / Chrudim Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Chuchelná' / Chuchelná Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Cincinnata' / Cincinnata Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Clanbrassiliana' / Clanbrassil Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Clanbrassiliana Stricta' / Lord Clanbrassil's Stiff and Erect Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Cobra' / Cobra Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Columnaris' / Columnar Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Compacta' / Compact Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Compacta Asselyn' / Compact Asselyn Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Compressa' / Compressa Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Coolwyn Globe' / Coolwyn Globe Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Cornell Broom' / Cornell Broom Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Cranstonii' / Cranston's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Crippsii' / Cripps' Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Cruenta' / Cruenta Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina' / Cupressina Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Dan's Dwarf' / Dan's Dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Děcák' / Děcák Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Decumbens' / Decumbent Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Denudata' / Naked Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Diffusa' / Diffuse Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Dolánky' / Dolánky Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Dubois' / Dubois Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Dumpy' / Dumpy Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Dundanga' / Dundanga Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Echiniformis' / Hedgehog Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Elegans' / Knights Dwarf spruce
Picea abies 'Elegantissima' / Very Elegant Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Ellwangeriana' / Ellwanger's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Emsland' / Emsland Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Eremita' / Eremita Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Eva' / Eva Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Fähndrich' / Fähndrich Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Falcato-viminalis'
Picea abies 'Farnsburg' / Farnsburg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Faskally Sport' / Faskally Sport Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Fat Cat' / Fat Cat Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Finedonensis' / Finedon Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Formánek' / Formánek Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Four Winds' / Four Winds Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Fritsche' / Fritsche Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Frohburg' / Frohburg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Girard's Monstrosa Broom' / Girard's Monstrosa Broom Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Globosa' / Globose Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Goblin' / Goblin Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Gold Dust' / Gold Dust Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Gothic' / Gothic Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Grace EC' / Grace EC Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Gregoryana' / The Gregory spruce
Picea abies 'Güdüla' / Güdüla Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Haga' / Haga Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Harly' / Harly Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Häsin' / Häsin Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Heartland Gem' / Heartland Gem Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Highlandia' / Highlandia Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Hiimuaa' / Hiimuaa Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Hildburghausen' / Hildburghausen Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Hillside Upright' / Hillside Upright Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Holy Family No. 1' / Holy Family No. 1 Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Horace Wilson' / Horace Wilson Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Hornibrookii' / Hornibrook's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Humilis' / Dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Humphrey's Gem' / Humphrey's Gem Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Hunneberg' / Hunneberg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Hystrix' / Hystrix Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Indet' / Indet Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Inversa' / Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Jana' / Jana Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Jessy' / Jessy Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Jõgeva' / Jõgeva Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Kámon' / Kámon Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Karlsbo' / 'Karlsbo' Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Kellerman's Blue Cameo' / Kellerman's Blue Cameo Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Kettle' / Kettle Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Kingsville Fluke' / Kingsville Fluke Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Kirkpatrick' / Kirkpatrick Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Klučenice' / Klučenice Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Kluis' / Kluis Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Knaptonensis' / Knapton Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Král' / Král Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Lanham's Beehive' / Lanham's Beehive Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Lawine' / Lawine Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Layne's Globe' / Layne's Globe Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Lemonade' / Lemonade Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Little Gem' / Little Gem Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Lone Tree No. 1' / Lone Tree No. 1 Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Loreley' / Loreley Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Lorenz' / Lorenz Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Lübecensis' / Norway spruce of Lübeck
Picea abies 'Lusk' / Lusk Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Luua Pärl' / Luua Pärl Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Luž' / Luž Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Maleček' / Maleček Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Malena' / Malena Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Malíček' / Malíček Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Mariae Orffiae' / Maria Orff's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Mauthneralm' / Mauthneralm Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Maxwellii' / Maxwell's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Merkii' / Merk's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' / Merrell Broom Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Microsperma' / Small-seeded Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Middle Road' / Middle Road Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Midland No. 2' / Midland No. 2 Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Mikulášovice' / Mikulášovice Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Minutifolia' / minute-leafed Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Monstrosa' / Monstrous Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Morrison West' / Morrison West Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Motala' / Motala Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Mountain Dew' / Mountain Dew Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Mucronata' / pointed Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Nana' / Dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Nana Compacta' / Dwarf Compact Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Nancy' / 'Nancy' Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Nidiformis' / Bird's Nest spruce
Picea abies 'Norrköping' / Norrköping Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Ohlendorffii' / Ohlendorff's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Oldenburg' / Oldenburg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pachyphylla' / thick-needled Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Parsonsii' / Parsons' Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Parviformis' / Small-shaped Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pell Lake No. 2' / Pell Lake No. 2 Norway spruce
Picea abies f. pendula
Picea abies 'Pendula' / weeping Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula Bohemica' / Weeping Bohemian Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula Major' / Greater Weeping Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula Monstrosa' / Monstrous Weeping Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Perry's Gold' / Perry's Gold Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Petra' / Petra Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Phylicoides' / Phylicoides Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pine Glen' / Pine Glen Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Piskowitz' / Piskowitz Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pitt Cemetery' / Pitt Cemetery Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Procumbens' / Procumbent Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Průhoniceana' / Průhonice spruce
Picea abies 'Psáry' / Psáry Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pseudo-Maxwellii' / Pseudo-Maxwell Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pseudo-prostrata' / False-prostrate Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pusch' / Pusch Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pumila' / Dwarf Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pumila Glauca' / Dwarf Blue Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pumila Nigra' / Dwarf Black Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pustertal' / Pustertal Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pustertal WB' / Pustertal WB Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pygmaea' / Pygmy Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pyramidalis' / Pyramidal Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pyramidalis Gracilis' / Pyramidal Graceful Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Pyramidalis Robusta'
Picea abies 'Pyramidata' / Pyramidal Norway spruce
Picea abies 'R.E.L. Broom' / R.E.L. Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Raraflora Weeper' / Raraflora Weeper Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Red Devil' / Red Devil Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Red Man' / Red Man Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Reflexa' / reflexed Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Remontii' / Remont's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Repens' / Creeping Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Reynolds No. 1' / Reynolds No. 1 Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Ripley Broom' / Ripley Broom Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Riverside No. 1' / Riverside No. 1 Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Rothenhausii' / Rothenhaus' Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Rubra Spicata' / red-tipped Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Saint James' / Saint James Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Sargentii' / Sargent's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Schloss Herrenstein' / Schloss Herrenstein Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Sherwoodii' / Sherwood's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Sigi' / Sigi Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Skyhigh WB' / Skyhigh WB Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Sonnenberg' / Sonnenberg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Spring Fire' / Spring Fire Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Stoner' / Stoner Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Suncrest' / Suncrest Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Svinná' / Svinná Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Swanson's Unknown' / Swanson's Unknown Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Swedona' / Swedona Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Tabuliformis' / Table-top Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Tompa' / Tompa Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Tuberculata' / Tuberous Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Tufty' / Tufty Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Typner' / Typner Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Van Bemmel' / Van Bemmel Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Vassar Broom' / Vassar Broom Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Veitchii' / Veitch's Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Vermont Gold' / Vermont Gold Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Villa Maria' / Villa Maria Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Viminalis' / Viminalis Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Virgata' / snake-branched Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Voznice' / Voznice Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Wagner' / Wagner Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Wartburg' / Wartburg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Weeping Blue' / Weeping Blue Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Well's Green Globe' / Wells Green Globe Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Wichtel' / Wichtel Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Wills Zwerg' / Will's Zwerg Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Wilson' / Wilson Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Wingle's Weeper' / Wingle's Weeper Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Witches' Brood' / Witches' Brood Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Zaječice' / Zaječice Norway spruce
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