Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' / Merrell Broom Norway spruce

Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' is an irregular globose selection of Norway spruce with short, clumpy branches holding very dark, shiny short green needles. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 12 to 18 inches (15 - 20 cm) tall and wide, an annual growth rate of 1 to 1.5 inches (1.5 - 2 cm).

<em>Picea abies </em> [Merrell Broom Tree] — this photo shows the original mother broom tree with the broom attached. The photo was taken in the Harper Collection, at Michigan State University's Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan. This tree was planted in the collection in 1996.
Picea abies [Merrell Broom Tree] — this photo shows the original mother broom tree with the broom attached. The photo was taken in the Harper Collection, at Michigan State University's Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan. This tree was planted in the collection in 1996.

This cultivar originated as a witch's broom found in the early 1990s by Dr. David Merrell of Rossford, Ohio, USA. The mother tree with broom was growing in a farm windbreak near Rossford. In 1995, Dr. Merrell arranged to have the tree dug and donated to the Harper Collection of Dwarf & Rare Conifers at Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton Michigan where it lives to this day.

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Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' — a photo taken in 2003 when the graft was about 9 years of age. This plant is in the Harper Collection at Michigan State University's Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan.
Photo by Chub Harper
Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' — the original mother tree now at Hidden Lakes Gardens, Michigan.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' — the mother tree with a conifer enthusiast to illustrate the size of the plant.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' — a mature specimen in an arboretum setting.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' — a closeup of the original witch's broom at Hidden Lakes Gardens, Michigan.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' — a closeup of foliage detail on the original broom.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Merrell Broom' — a closeup of foliage detail.
Photo by Bill Barger

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