Picea orientalis aka Caucasian Spruce

Picea orientalis is an evergreen tree in the pine family. Its names include oriental spruce and Caucasian spruce. It comes from northern Turkey and the Caucasus, including Georgia. In gardens, it often reaches 50–60 feet (15–18 metres). Wild trees can reach 120 feet (37 metres). Reported garden widths range from 15–26 feet (4.6–8 metres). It grows slowly and forms a dense, narrow cone. Lower branches can reach the ground. Main branches spread or rise, while side branches may droop.

Its short needles stay dark green through the year. They have a glossy surface and four sides. Their blunt tips and close spacing give branches a dense look. Each side bears one to four lines of stomata. Young bark is smooth and brown. With age, it cracks into small plates and sheds thin scales. Young twigs are orange-brown and bear fine hairs. Short pegs remain on twigs after needles fall.

This conifer makes cones rather than true flowers. Male and female cones grow on the same tree. Young cones add red-purple color in spring. Seed cones hang on short stalks near branch tips. They grow 0.16–0.33 feet (0.05–0.10 metres) long. Their scales have smooth edges. The cones turn brown as they ripen in summer and fall.

Give this spruce full sun and moist soil that drains well. Acid or neutral soil suits it. It accepts clay, loam, sand, gravel, and poor soil. It tolerates some dry spells, but favors a cool climate. Heat and humidity can cause poor growth. Shelter it from cold, drying winds. Sources place it within USDA zones 4–8 and rate it H7. Severe winters can still brown the needles. It needs little upkeep and no routine pruning. Use it as a lawn tree, screen, or evergreen shade tree. Its branches give birds nesting sites and wildlife winter shelter.

Possible pests include bagworms, mites, adelgids, and conifer aphids. Needle cast, cankers, and honey fungus may also occur. PFAF reports edible young male cones, cooked immature female cones, and raw seeds. The seeds are small and hard to handle. Ground inner bark serves as emergency food or a thickener. Young shoot tips can make tea containing vitamin C. PFAF lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. The bark supplies tannin, and bark and branches supply turpentine. The wood has uses in building, furniture, and paper.