Picea abies 'Reynolds No. 1' / Reynolds No. 1 Norway spruce

Picea abies 'Reynolds No. 1' is a low mounding, flattened globose selection of Norway spruce with irregular branches and dark green needles. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 24 inches (60 cm) tall and wide, an annual growth rate of 2 inches (5 cm).

This cultivar originated as a witch's broom was discovered in the late 1980s in Reynolds Cemetery in Reynolds, Illinois by Randy Dykstra of Fulton, Illinois and Justin "Chub" Harper of Moline. In his field notes, Chub described the broom as "flat growing with shiny dark-green foliage." A first propagation of this plant grows in the Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers at Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, Michigan. This plant is accession number H93026 and is growing in Bed R within the collection. This plant was 15 years of age in 2006.

Picea abies 'Reynolds no. 1' — a picture of what is likely the oldest-known specimen in Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan.
Photo by Ronald Elardo
Picea abies 'Reynolds No. 1' in the Harper Collection at Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea abies 'Reynolds No. 1' — an historic photo from 1988 of the original broom at Reynolds cemetery.
Photo by Chub Harper
Picea abies 'Reynolds No. 1' — the original harvested broom, ready for grafting.
Photo by Chub Harper

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