Paul's Select Norway Spruce

Paul's Select Norway Spruce (Picea abies 'Paul's Select')

Paul's Select Norway Spruce brings the classic spruce presence with a cooler blue-green tone that stands out in every season. Its upright, narrow habit makes it easier to fit into residential landscapes than many large conifers, while still delivering real screening and wind protection potential over time. Dense branching helps it look full from top to bottom, keeping property lines and large beds looking finished through winter. Plant it where you want long-term evergreen structure with strong color contrast and dependable performance.

Distinctive Features

This selection is valued for its distinctive blue-green to silvery blue needle color, a standout look for Norway spruce, and its naturally upright, pyramidal form. Branching tends to stay dense, creating a clean outline and good coverage close to the ground, especially when grown in full sun. It is generally considered more tolerant of heavier, moisture-retentive soils than many blue spruces, as long as drainage is not stagnant. Growth rate can vary by climate and site, but a conservative expectation is roughly 10 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide over time, with a narrower profile than typical Norway spruce.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with best color and density in full sun.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil is ideal, and it can tolerate heavier soils if excess water drains.
• Water: Keep evenly moist during establishment, then water during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Zones 3 to 7.
• Mature Size: Commonly about 10 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide over time, with variation by site.
• Habit: Upright, pyramidal evergreen with dense branching and a relatively narrow footprint.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use the blue-green color and upright form as a focal point near an entry, gate, or prominent bed corner.
• Privacy Screening: Plant in rows for a dense evergreen screen that holds coverage through winter.
• Windbreak: Use in staggered plantings to reduce wind and protect more sensitive beds and outdoor spaces.
• Evergreen Backdrop: Place behind flowering shrubs and perennials to make seasonal color stand out against cool-toned needles.
• Property Definition: Establish a strong evergreen boundary along back lines and wide side yards without an overly broad spread.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deep water through the first one to two growing seasons to support strong rooting and reduce stress.
• Mulching: Apply mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch off the trunk.
• Pruning: Prune only to remove dead or damaged branches, and avoid heavy shaping that disrupts the natural pyramid.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in early spring only if growth is weak, using a slow-release fertilizer for evergreens.
• Spacing: Allow adequate room for mature width and airflow to support better needle retention and long-term vigor.
• Monitoring: Watch for stress during hot, dry periods and address moisture and site issues early.

Why Choose Paul's Select Norway Spruce?

• Blue-Green Color: Distinct needle color brings cool contrast and four-season interest.
• Dense Coverage: Full branching supports strong screening and a finished look close to the ground.
• Space-Smart Form: Upright habit delivers height and structure with less width than many large evergreens.
• Cold Hardiness: Performs reliably in colder climates where evergreen structure is most valuable.
• Site Adaptability: Handles a broader range of soil moisture than many blue spruces when drainage is reliable.

If you want an evergreen that combines privacy value with standout color, Paul's Select Norway Spruce is a strong choice. Give it sun, consistent moisture while it establishes, and enough space to mature into a dense screen or specimen. Over time it becomes a long-lived backbone plant that keeps the landscape looking intentional in every season.