A Low, Spreading Emerald Carpet of Spruce

Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce (Picea abies '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.

Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce Plant Details

Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Evergreen Groundcover

Use as a low, spreading mat for slopes, rock gardens, and the front of beds.

Spilling Accent

Plant atop walls or boulders to let it cascade over the edge.

Best Time to Plant Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce in Minnesota

Spring 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.

Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Evergreen groundcover

This 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.

Draping over walls and boulders

Set 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.

Slope and bank cover

Its 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.

Four-season interest

The emerald needles hold their color through five months of Minnesota winter, giving low beds and slopes evergreen structure when everything around them is dormant.

Best Time to Plant Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce in Minnesota

For evergreens, the ideal window is late August through mid-September, giving roots time to establish before the ground freezes. Spring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) 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.

How to Plant Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, the same depth as the ball. Heavy clay benefits from an even wider hole.
2. Check for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't create a pure-compost "container" the roots won't leave.
4. Spacing — 3–4 feet apart for groundcover coverage; give a single plant room to spread 3–5 feet.
5. Water basin — build a low ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove it before winter to avoid ice damage.
6. Mulch — 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.

Watering Wells Emerald Creeper Norway Spruce in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches/month June–August)
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities)
• Give one deep watering in early December if fall was dry — evergreens lose moisture through their needles all winter

After Year One

Established 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.

Will Wells Emerald Creeper survive a Minnesota winter?

Easily. 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.

How does it grow — up or out?

Out. 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.

Is it deer-resistant?

Strongly. 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.

Does it need full sun?

Yes — full sun (6+ hours) keeps it dense and richly emerald. It tolerates light shade but spreads more slowly and openly.

You May Also Like

• Sherwood Compact Norway Spruce — a dense, compact Norway spruce for small accents.
• Dwarf Black Spruce — a low blue-gray bun of a Minnesota-native spruce.
• Echiniformis Hedgehog Spruce — a tiny blue-green cushion for rock gardens and troughs.
• Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae — a soft, ball-shaped dwarf arborvitae for low edging.