{"product_id":"hillside-upright-norway-spruce","title":"Hillside Upright Norway Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Dense, Narrow, Characterful Norway Spruce\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHillside Upright Norway Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea abies\u003c\/em\u003e 'Hillside Upright') is a slow, semi-dwarf selection that grows into a dense, narrowly upright form with appealing irregular character. Rich green needles and a compact, sculptural habit take it to roughly 8-12 feet over time, well-suited to specimen use and smaller landscapes where a full Norway spruce will not fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHillside Upright Norway 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 'Hillside Upright'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHillside Upright Norway Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8-12 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-6 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow - 6-9 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ 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, rich green needles\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 selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHillside Upright Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Vertical Accent for Tight Spaces\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 8-12 feet tall but only 4-6 feet wide, Hillside Upright slips into spots where a full-size spruce would never fit - the narrow strip between two houses, a side yard in St. Paul, or flanking a front entry in Edina. Its dense, upright form adds height and year-round structure without sprawling into walkways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSmall-Yard Privacy Screen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it stays slim, a row of Hillside Upright makes a living privacy screen that does not swallow a small Twin Cities lot. Space the plants 4-5 feet apart for a continuous green wall along a property line or patio - a 20-foot run takes about five plants, a 40-foot run about ten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVertical Contrast in Mixed Evergreen Beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts columnar shape plays beautifully against rounded dwarf conifers and spreading junipers. Use it as the upright exclamation point in a low-maintenance evergreen bed in Plymouth or Maple Grove, where its rich green needles hold color and shed snow load all winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Hillside Upright Norway Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an evergreen, Hillside Upright establishes best when planted in late summer to early fall - late August through mid September is the ideal Twin Cities window, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes and limiting the winter desiccation that stresses fall-planted conifers. Spring (late April through May, after the ground thaws) is the strong second choice. Avoid midsummer planting, and never plant after mid-October or before the ground thaws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Hillside Upright Norway Spruce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig the hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper - in heavy clay, go wider still and set the top of the root ball slightly above grade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck for clay hardpan: if water pools in the bottom of the hole, break through the compacted layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20-30% compost; avoid creating a pure-compost pocket that traps water around the roots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants 4-5 feet apart for a privacy screen, or give a single specimen its own 5-6 foot footprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3-4 inch watering basin around the root zone, then flatten it before winter to prevent ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2-3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept a couple of inches back from the trunk. Do not use gravel mulch - it offers no winter insulation in Minnesota.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Hillside Upright Norway Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1-2: water deeply every 1-2 days, soaking the root ball slowly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1-2: water every 3-4 days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3 onward: water every 5-7 days through the growing season, easing off when rainfall is adequate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2-3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro). A single deep soak in early December helps if fall was dry, since evergreens lose moisture all winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEstablished plants need supplemental water only during droughts - two or more weeks with no rain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater deeply and infrequently, soaking to 6-8 inches, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Hillside Upright Norway Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily. It is hardy to roughly -40F (USDA zone 3), well beyond the Twin Cities metro range of zone 4b-5a. Its dense, narrow form sheds snow well, though brushing heavy wet snow off the top helps the tight column keep its shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Hillside Upright Norway Spruce deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Deer rarely browse spruce because the stiff needles deter them, making it a dependable pick for high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow wide does it actually get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt stays genuinely narrow - mature width is only 4-6 feet, against a height of 8-12 feet. That slim profile is what makes it so useful in side yards and tight screening lines where a standard spruce would crowd the space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow fast does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlowly and densely, about 6-9 inches per year in Minnesota. The slow rate keeps it tidy and compact, so it holds its narrow shape for years without heavy pruning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlue Totem Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a narrow columnar blue Colorado spruce for the same tight-space vertical accent with icy-blue color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkinny Blue Genes White Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - an exceptionally slim, blue-needled column for the narrowest screening lines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Alberta Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a dense, cone-shaped dwarf that pairs well at the base of an upright specimen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBonny Blue Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a compact blue spruce that adds rounded contrast in a mixed evergreen bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Hillside Upright Norway Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a small-yard privacy screen, plant Hillside Upright 4–5 feet apart in a single row:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScreen Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants Needed (4.5-ft spacing)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e80 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e19 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a specimen, one plant with its own 5–6 foot footprint is enough; a matched pair flanking an entry reads formal and tidy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHillside Upright Norway Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft, bright-green new growth tips every branch — the year's 6–9 inches of slow, dense extension.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich green needles on a tight, sculptural column that needs no shearing to stay narrow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds full deep-green color as deciduous plants fade, anchoring the bed's structure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e A snow-shedding green spire reliable to −40°F; brush heavy wet snow off the top to protect the form.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ 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\/blue-totem-colorado-spruce\"\u003eBlue Totem Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — icy-blue columnar partner for a two-tone vertical accent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-alberta-spruce\"\u003eDwarf Alberta Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — dense cone that anchors the base of an upright specimen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bonny-blue-colorado-spruce\"\u003eBonny Blue Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — compact blue spruce for rounded contrast in a mixed evergreen bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-point-juniper\"\u003eBlue Point Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — tidy blue-green pyramid that echoes the upright theme at a smaller scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Hillside Upright Norway Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Hillside Upright if you have a full-sun spot with decent drainage and want year-round vertical structure in a tight footprint — side yards, entries, and small-lot screens are its sweet spot, and deer leave it alone. It's not a fit if you need fast height or a tall screen on a big open line; at 6–9 inches a year it rewards patience, so plant a faster spruce or arborvitae where speed matters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#6 Gallon","offer_id":54295924670769,"sku":"GT-E1214","price":219.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#10 Gallon","offer_id":54295924703537,"sku":"GT-E1215","price":178.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#20 Gallon","offer_id":54295924736305,"sku":"GT-E1217","price":260.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5' B\u0026B","offer_id":54295924769073,"sku":"GT-E1218","price":274.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/hillside-upright-norway-spruce.jpg?v=1779469307","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/hillside-upright-norway-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}