Picea pungens 'Hermann Naue' / Hermann Naue Colorado spruce

Picea pungens ‘Hermann Naue’ is flat-topped, bushy selection of Colorado spruce that grows twice as wide as tall. It is notable for producing cones at the branch tips at a very young age, making it an “Acrocona-like” version of Picea pungens. When the cones first appear in the spring, they are a very showy purplish red, later maturing to paper-bag brown. The needles are a bit finer than those of the species, yet are typically prickly and a nice shade of Blue. Expected annual growth of around 2 inches (5 cm) will produce a specimen approximately 2 feet wide (60 cm) and 18 inches (45 cm) tall after 10 years.

'Hermann Naue' was introduced almost at the same time as Picea pungens 'Early Cones.' At a young age the two plants are virtually identical. 'Hermann Naue' tends to grow a little faster and will become a mature looking specimen at a younger age than will 'Early Cones.' It should also be noted that 'Hermann Naue' is known to revert into a regular Picea pungens species form in some parts of the United States, making it of limited use to the small garden.

Hermann Naue was found and introduced in Germany in the late 1990s. Unfortunately little else is known of its origin.

Attribution from: Robert L. Fincham; Small Conifers for Small Gardens, ©2011, Coenosium Press