Weeping spruce, Brewer Spruce, Brewer's weeping spruce
Picea breweriana
Family: Pinaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 9-15 m high and spreads 3-4.5 m wide. The branches dip then turn up at the end. The shoots hang giving a weeping appearance. The leaves are stiff, fleshy needles which come out almost at right angles. The leaves are blue-green. The male flowers are orange and the female flowers are greenish. The cones are slightly curved and ripen to brown in the autumn.
There are between 30 and 40 species of Picea.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It does best in moist soil. It can stand shade or sun. It grows naturally in mountains in California in the United States. It grows between 1,200-2,100 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 2-8. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Britain, Europe, North America (country/location of origin), Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Flowers, inner bark, seeds, tea
How it is grown
Trees grow slowly.