Picea purpurea (01/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 45m
Eventual Spread: 15m
Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Family: Pinaceae
Picea purpurea is an evergreen coniferous tree with a narrow conical habit. Its dark green leaves are needle like, up to 12mm long and 1.8mm broad. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1m. Its dark gray bark is scaly. Its male flowers are in the form of pollen cones. Its female fruit are cylindrical cones are purple black/ red purple, up to 4cm long and 3cm across.
Picea purpurea Leaf (01/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Picea purpurea, commonly known as Purple Coned Spruce, is native to central Asia and west China. In its native habitat it grows on mountain slopes in coniferous forests at an altitude of 2600m to 3600m.
The etymological root of the binomial name Picea is derived from the Latin Pix meaning ‘pitch or tar’ in reference to the Spruce trees resin. Purpurea is from the Latin meaning ‘purple’, in reference to its cones.
The landscape architect may find Picea purpurea useful as a large, upright evergreen coniferous specimen tree with attractive cones. It will not tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Picea purpurea Bark (01/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Picea purpurea seeds are attractive to some birds.
Picea purpurea prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to acid pH of soil, including very acidic. It will tolerate poor soils.
Picea purpurea requires little maintenance.