{"product_id":"serbian-spruce","title":"Serbian Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Narrow, Graceful Spruce for Refined Landscapes\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerbian Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea omorika\u003c\/em\u003e) is the most elegant spruce for tight spaces - a slender spire 40-50 feet tall but only 10-15 feet wide, with arching branches and distinctive two-tone needles that are dark green above and silver-blue beneath. More tolerant of varied soils and a touch of shade than most spruce, it is a sophisticated specimen for smaller Minnesota lots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSerbian 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\u003cem\u003ePicea omorika\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSerbian Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40-50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-15 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate - about 12 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to light 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\u003e4-7 (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 - dark green needles with silver-blue undersides on arching branches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -30F.\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, sharp 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 Balkan species prized for its narrow, graceful form\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSerbian Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRefined Specimen Tree\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerbian Spruce is the most graceful of the spruces - a slender spire of arching branches whose dark green needles flash silver-blue undersides, giving the whole tree a soft two-tone shimmer. As a refined specimen near an entry or in a front bed in Edina or Wayzata, it has an elegance that a broad, stiff Colorado spruce simply cannot match.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTall, Narrow Screens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 40-50 feet tall but only 10-15 feet wide, it delivers serious height and privacy in a narrow footprint - perfect for tight Twin Cities lots. Space the trees 8-10 feet apart for a tall, slim living screen along a property line in Minneapolis or St. Paul where a wide spruce would never fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAdaptable Urban and Light-Shade Evergreen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike most spruce, Serbian tolerates light shade and stands up well to urban conditions, pollution, and a range of soils. That adaptability makes it one of the best spruces for city lots and the dappled edge of a wooded yard in Plymouth or Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Serbian Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an evergreen, Serbian Spruce 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 reducing winter desiccation. 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 Serbian 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 8-10 feet apart for a narrow screen, or give a single specimen its own 10-15 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 Serbian 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 Serbian Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. It is hardy to roughly -30F (USDA zone 4), which covers the Twin Cities metro (zone 4b-5a). Its narrow form and flexible, arching branches also shed heavy snow well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow narrow does it stay?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemarkably narrow - only 10-15 feet wide at maturity against a height of 40-50 feet. That slender, spire-like profile is exactly what makes it so useful where you want height without width.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it tolerate shade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetter than most spruce. It prefers full sun but will grow in light shade with about four hours of direct light, which makes it a good fit along a wooded edge or a partly shaded city lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Serbian Spruce deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Deer rarely browse spruce because the stiff, sharp needles deter them, making it a dependable pick for high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBruns Weeping Serbian Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a dramatic weeping form of this same graceful species.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSky Trails Serbian Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a narrow weeping Serbian spruce selection for a sculptural accent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkinny Blue Genes White Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - an exceptionally slim blue-needled spruce for the tightest screens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHillside Upright Norway Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a dense, narrow green spruce that pairs well in a slim mixed screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Serbian Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a tall, narrow privacy screen, space Serbian Spruce 9 feet apart (center to center):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTrees Needed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e36 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e54 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e72 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a specimen, give a single tree a 12–15 foot footprint; a staggered group of 3 spaced 10 feet apart makes an elegant evergreen cluster on a larger lawn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSerbian Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft new growth tips the arching branches in fresh green, brightening the slender spire.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The two-tone effect is at its best — dark green needles flash silver-blue undersides with every breeze.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The graceful spire becomes a strong vertical anchor as deciduous neighbors go bare.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flexible, arching branches shed heavy snow without breaking, and the silhouette is at its most sculptural against a white backdrop — with cover for overwintering songbirds.\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\/bruns-weeping-serbian-spruce\"\u003eBruns Weeping Serbian Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — the dramatic weeping form of the same species for a sculptural accent nearby.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sky-trails-serbian-spruce\"\u003eSky Trails Serbian Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a semi-weeping selection with trailing branches that echoes the parent's grace.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/skinny-blue-genes-spruce\"\u003eSkinny Blue Genes Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — an ultra-narrow blue column for the very tightest gap in the screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/hillside-upright-norway-spruce\"\u003eHillside Upright Norway Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — dense, dark green, and narrow — a fine texture partner in a slim mixed evergreen row.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Serbian Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerbian Spruce thrives in full sun to light shade in most Minnesota soils, including clay-loam, and delivers 40–50 feet of refined evergreen height in just a 10–15 foot footprint — with deer leaving it alone. It handles urban lots better than most spruce. It's not a fit for the coldest, most exposed zone-3 exurban sites (it's a solid zone 4 tree, but Black Hills or white spruce are safer there) or for soggy ground that never drains.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"5' B\u0026B","offer_id":54281971826993,"sku":"GT-E1721","price":356.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"6' B\u0026B","offer_id":54281971859761,"sku":"GT-E1722.5","price":439.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"7' B\u0026B","offer_id":54281971892529,"sku":"GT-E1722.7","price":521.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/serbian-spruce.jpg?v=1779469306","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/serbian-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}