White Spruce 'Daisy's White'

White Spruce 'Daisy's White' (Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Daisy's White') is a dwarf spruce that looks dusted with snow in spring. The new growth opens creamy yellow, then turns white, and only towards the end of summer does the crown settle back to even green.

The dense, regular cone keeps its shape without any trimming, which makes this cultivar ideal for a rock or gravel garden, a patio container, or a small city planting. At ten years it is only about 0.6 m tall.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: It stays "white" for far longer than a week: the creamy growth bleaches in the sun and only greens up late in summer.
• Dimensions: At ten years it is a neat little tree 0.6 m tall and 0.3 m wide.
• Hardiness: Hardy down to -45 °C (USDA zone 2).
• Light: It is happiest in a sunny spot sheltered from the scorching afternoon sun; it takes partial shade willingly too.
• Soil: It likes moist but well-drained soil, ideally neutral to acid: loam, clay and sand all suit it.
• Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist and well drained - the one thing it dislikes is standing water at the roots.
• Care: No pruning is needed at all; just keep an eye out for adelgids, conifer aphid and red spider mite.
• Landscape use: It adorns rock and gravel gardens, patio containers, and low-maintenance city and cottage compositions.
• Origin: A bud sport on 'Conica' from the Belgian nursery L. Jeurissen-Wijnen, named after the raiser's granddaughter Daisy; holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.