Picea abies 'Gold Dust' is a narrowly conical, upright, dwarf selection of Norway spruce with symmetrical branching and short, fine, gold-variegated needles. Toward the base, the needle-color is green while toward the tip they are soft gold in color. The overall effect is that of gold-dusting.
After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 5.5 feet (1.8 m) tall and 2 feet (60 cm) wide, an annual growth rate of 4 to 6 inches (10 - 15 cm).
This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in the early 1980s by Buchholz Nursery, Gaston, Oregon.
[Talon Buchholz, the originator made the following comments in his Flora Wonder Blog in January, 2012] This imp was found in an understock batch, and was thrown in the trash late one night when I was grafting. Obviously it wasn't going to make a good rootstock. The next morning I had a more benevolent view of the seedling and rescued it. 'Gold Dust' even earned some mild praise from Don Howse of Porterhowse Farms, a conifer geek who has seen them all."
