{"product_id":"birds-nest-spruce","title":"Bird's Nest Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Classic Low Green Nest for Foundations\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBird's Nest Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea abies\u003c\/em\u003e 'Nidiformis') is one of the most popular dwarf conifers for good reason - a dense, low, spreading mound with a charming nest-like hollow in the center. It stays around 2-3 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide, needs no pruning, and offers reliable deep green texture for foundations, borders, and mass plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBird's Nest Spruce Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePicea abies\u003c\/em\u003e 'Nidiformis'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBird's Nest Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-3 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow - 2-4 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (4+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; water deeply through the first two seasons.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - dense, deep green needles in a spreading nest form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood - deer rarely browse spruce; the stiff needles deter them.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot native; a European Norway spruce dwarf selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBird's Nest Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoundations \u0026amp; Borders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts low, spreading mound is a foundation-planting staple; space 3-4 feet apart for a green band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMass Plantings \u0026amp; Slopes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDependable, uniform, and tough - excellent for filling beds and holding gentle slopes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Bird's Nest Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring through early fall all work, but late August through mid-September is ideal, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes. Water deeply once a week the first season and mulch to hold moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBird's Nest Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLow spreading accent and foundation plant\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBird's Nest Spruce forms a low, flat-topped mound — often with a slight nest-like depression in the center — spreading 3–5 feet wide while staying just 2–3 feet tall. It's a go-to low evergreen for foundation beds and bed edges in Edina, Plymouth, and Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMassing and low borders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant several 3–4 feet apart for a low, undulating evergreen border or to fill a sunny-to-part-shade bed with year-round green that never needs shearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart-shade tolerance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike most spruces, Bird's Nest takes part shade (4+ hours of sun), so it works on the east side of a house or under the high, open canopy of mature trees common across the Twin Cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dense, deep-green needles hold their color and tidy nest form through five months of Minnesota winter, giving low beds reliable evergreen structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Bird's Nest Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor evergreens, the ideal window is \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving roots time to establish before the ground freezes and before winter wind can dry the needles. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the second-best option. Avoid summer planting when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground and frost-heaving kill new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Bird's Nest Spruce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, the same depth as the ball. Heavy clay benefits from an even wider hole.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't create a pure-compost \"container\" the roots won't leave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — 3–4 feet apart for low massing; give a single plant room to spread 3–5 feet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a 3–4 inch ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove it before winter to avoid ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch — 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood-chip mulch around (not over) the plant. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Bird's Nest Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches\/month June–August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive one deep watering in early December if fall was dry — evergreens lose moisture through their needles all winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants only need supplemental water during droughts (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently, soaking the spreading root zone, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Bird's Nest Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily. Norway spruce is hardy to roughly -40°F (zone 3), so a Twin Cities winter is no challenge — and its low profile means winter snow simply blankets and protects it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan it take shade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than most spruce — it performs well in part shade with 4+ hours of sun, making it useful on the east or north side of the house or under high tree canopy. More sun yields the densest, tidiest nest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce — the stiff needles are unpalatable — making it dependable even in high-pressure deer suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt stays low — about 2–3 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide — and grows slowly, holding its flat nest shape for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLittle Gem Norway Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tiny, even more compact nest-form dwarf for troughs and edging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a dense, rounded dwarf Norway spruce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRipplebrook Norway Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a small dense green dwarf for rock gardens and beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a prostrate, groundcovering Norway spruce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Bird's Nest Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a low evergreen band along a foundation or bed edge, space plants 3–4 feet apart (centers) — they knit into a continuous undulating mound:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (3–4 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–6 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–9 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–12 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a single accent, give one plant a 4–5 foot circle to spread into; odd-numbered groups of 3 read most naturally in a mixed bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBird's Nest Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh, bright-green new growth tips every branch in May, softening the deep green nest for a few weeks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense, tidy, deep-green mound that holds its shape with zero shearing — dependable texture while perennials come and go around it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Needles stay deep green as the rest of the bed goes dormant, anchoring the planting into November.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The low nest form catches and holds snow like a blanket, staying green underneath and giving foundation beds structure all five months.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Shade-Tolerant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/little-gem-norway-spruce\"\u003eLittle Gem Norway Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a tiny nest-form dwarf that repeats the same shape at a smaller scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sherwood-compact-norway-spruce\"\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a dense rounded dwarf for height contrast beside the flat nest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ripplebrook-norway-spruce\"\u003eRipplebrook Norway Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a small dense green dwarf that ties rock gardens and beds together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/wells-emerald-creeper-norway-spruce\"\u003eWells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a prostrate groundcovering form to run along the bed edge in front.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Bird's Nest Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Bird's Nest Spruce if you want a no-prune, deer-proof, low evergreen for a foundation bed, border edge, or gentle slope with at least 4 hours of sun and reasonable drainage — it's one of the most forgiving dwarf conifers for Twin Cities yards. It's not a fit for deep shade or chronically soggy, standing-water spots, where the needles thin out and roots struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54295925686577,"sku":"GT-E1230","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54295925719345,"sku":"GT-E1235","price":50.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/birds-nest-spruce.jpg?v=1779469307","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/birds-nest-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}