{"product_id":"wells-emerald-creeper-norway-spruce","title":"Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Low, Spreading Emerald Carpet of Spruce\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea abies\u003c\/em\u003e 'Wells Emerald Creeper') is a prostrate, ground-hugging selection that spreads into a low carpet of bright emerald-green needles. Without staking it stays under a foot tall while creeping outward, making it a unique evergreen groundcover for slopes, rock gardens, and spilling over walls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWells Emerald Creeper 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 'Wells Emerald Creeper'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnder 1 foot (spreading)\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 (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 - bright emerald-green needles on prostrate branches\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 prostrate selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEvergreen Groundcover\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse as a low, spreading mat for slopes, rock gardens, and the front of beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpilling Accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant atop walls or boulders to let it cascade over the edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Wells Emerald Creeper Norway 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\u003eWells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEvergreen groundcover\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis prostrate spruce hugs the ground, spreading 3–5 feet wide while staying under a foot tall — a rare evergreen groundcover that brings bright emerald color to a bed or slope in Edina, Plymouth, or Maple Grove. Plant 3–4 feet apart to knit together into a low carpet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDraping over walls and boulders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSet it at the top of a retaining wall or beside a boulder and let the branches cascade over the edge for a soft, living drape — a striking, low-maintenance accent in rock gardens and modern landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSlope and bank cover\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts spreading habit helps cover and stabilize a sunny slope or bank where mowing is a hassle, providing year-round green without the upkeep of turf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe emerald needles hold their color through five months of Minnesota winter, giving low beds and slopes evergreen structure when everything around them is dormant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Wells Emerald Creeper Norway 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. \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 Wells Emerald Creeper Norway 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 groundcover coverage; give a single plant room to spread 3–5 feet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a low 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, kept off the stems. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Wells Emerald Creeper Norway 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 Wells Emerald Creeper 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. A snow cover actually protects the low branches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow does it grow — up or out?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOut. It's a prostrate selection with no central leader, so it stays under a foot tall and spreads 3–5 feet wide. It can also be grafted onto a standard to create a weeping form — ask which form you're buying.\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\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — full sun (6+ hours) keeps it dense and richly emerald. It tolerates light shade but spreads more slowly and openly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSherwood Compact Norway Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a dense, compact Norway spruce for small accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a low blue-gray bun of a Minnesota-native spruce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tiny blue-green cushion for rock gardens and troughs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a soft, ball-shaped dwarf arborvitae for low edging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#3 Gallon","offer_id":54295926276401,"sku":"GT-E1289","price":68.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/wells-emerald-creeper-norway-spruce.jpg?v=1779469308","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/wells-emerald-creeper-norway-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}