Picea orientalis 'Sunrise' is a dwarf, upright, conical selection of Caucasian spruce with symmetrical branching and deep green glossy foliage that bears a rich golden frosting on upper branchlet surfaces that exposed to sun. It is superficially to Picea orientalis 'Skylands' and its children, but appears to be much more tolerant of sun when young and has a much more dramatic contrast between the golden needles and the dark green shaded parts of the plant.
After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 4.5 feet (1.5 m) tall and 3 feet (1 m) wide, an annual growth rate of 4 to 6 inches (10 - 15 cm).
This cultivar originated as a seedling sourced from Picea orientalis 'Skylands' seed, selected in the mid 1990s by Robert L. Fincham of Coenosium Gardens, Eatonville, Washington and introduced to the nursery trade by Conifer Kingdom Nursery, Silverton, Oregon.
