A Dense, Narrow, Characterful Norway Spruce

Hillside Upright Norway Spruce (Picea abies '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.

Hillside Upright Norway Spruce Plant Details

Hillside Upright Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Narrow Vertical Accent for Tight Spaces

At 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.

Small-Yard Privacy Screen

Because 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.

Vertical Contrast in Mixed Evergreen Beds

Its 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.

Best Time to Plant Hillside Upright Norway Spruce in Minnesota

As 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.

How to Plant Hillside Upright Norway Spruce

1. Dig 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.
2. Check for clay hardpan: if water pools in the bottom of the hole, break through the compacted layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with the native soil mixed with 20-30% compost; avoid creating a pure-compost pocket that traps water around the roots.
4. Space plants 4-5 feet apart for a privacy screen, or give a single specimen its own 5-6 foot footprint.
5. Build a 3-4 inch watering basin around the root zone, then flatten it before winter to prevent ice damage.
6. Mulch 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.

Watering Hillside Upright Norway Spruce in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1-2: water deeply every 1-2 days, soaking the root ball slowly.
• Month 1-2: water every 3-4 days.
• Month 3 onward: water every 5-7 days through the growing season, easing off when rainfall is adequate.
• Stop 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.

After Year One

• Established plants need supplemental water only during droughts - two or more weeks with no rain.
• Water deeply and infrequently, soaking to 6-8 inches, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.

Will Hillside Upright Norway Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?

Easily. 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.

Is Hillside Upright Norway Spruce deer-resistant?

Yes. 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.

How wide does it actually get?

It 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.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly 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.

You May Also Like

• Blue Totem Spruce - a narrow columnar blue Colorado spruce for the same tight-space vertical accent with icy-blue color.
• Skinny Blue Genes White Spruce - an exceptionally slim, blue-needled column for the narrowest screening lines.
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce - a dense, cone-shaped dwarf that pairs well at the base of an upright specimen.
• Bonny Blue Spruce - a compact blue spruce that adds rounded contrast in a mixed evergreen bed.

How Many Hillside Upright Norway Spruce Do I Need?

For a small-yard privacy screen, plant Hillside Upright 4–5 feet apart in a single row:

As a specimen, one plant with its own 5–6 foot footprint is enough; a matched pair flanking an entry reads formal and tidy.

Hillside Upright Norway Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Soft, bright-green new growth tips every branch — the year's 6–9 inches of slow, dense extension.
• Summer: Rich green needles on a tight, sculptural column that needs no shearing to stay narrow.
• Fall: Holds full deep-green color as deciduous plants fade, anchoring the bed's structure.
• Winter: A snow-shedding green spire reliable to −40°F; brush heavy wet snow off the top to protect the form.

At a Glance

✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Blue Totem Spruce — icy-blue columnar partner for a two-tone vertical accent.
• Dwarf Alberta Spruce — dense cone that anchors the base of an upright specimen.
• Bonny Blue Spruce — compact blue spruce for rounded contrast in a mixed evergreen bed.
• Blue Point Juniper — tidy blue-green pyramid that echoes the upright theme at a smaller scale.

Is Hillside Upright Norway Spruce Right for Your Yard?

Choose 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.