Picea asperata aka Dragon Spruce

Picea asperata is an evergreen tree called dragon spruce. It belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. This species comes from China, including Sichuan and Gansu. Kew places its range from eastern Qinghai to Inner Mongolia. It grows in mountain forests and river basins. In some forests, it forms large stands of its own. Its native habitat lies in the temperate zone.

The crown can form a broad cone or upright column. Branches spread out sideways and droop as the tree ages. Growth is slow, and reported sizes differ between sources. Oregon State gives a garden height of 25 feet [7.6 metres]. RHS lists heights above 39 feet [12 metres]. Its fuller account reaches 82 feet [25 metres]. Chicago also reports trees reaching about 80 feet [24.4 metres]. RHS gives a spread of 13–26 feet [4–8 metres]. These figures show that garden size estimates vary widely.

The dark brown bark breaks into rough plates and scales. Young shoots start yellow-brown or red-brown, then turn brown or grey-brown. The stiff needles have four sides and sharp tips. They may look blue-green or dark green. Each needle reaches about 0.07 feet [0.02 metres] long. Needles point upward on the tops of the shoots. Chicago lists the bloom season as March to April. Wind carries the pollen. Female cones start green and turn light brown as they ripen. These long, rounded cones reach about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres].

Grow this spruce in full sun with moist, well-drained soil. Oregon State also allows light shade. It accepts clay, loam, and sand, across a wide pH range. Shelter it from cold winds that dry the foliage. Sources place it in USDA zones 6–7 and RHS class H7. It needs no routine pruning. Growers can raise it from seed or semi-hardwood cuttings. Its form suits specimen planting and woodland canopy use. Adelgids, spider mites, and conifer aphids may attack it. Honey fungus is another risk.

The wood supplies building timber, furniture, and paper fibre. The trunk yields resin, while other parts yield aromatic oils. Young male catkins and small seeds have food uses. Cooked young female cones also have edible centres. Ground inner bark can thicken soup or supplement bread. Young shoot tips can make tea. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards or medicinal uses.