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Picea orientalis - (L.)Link.

Common Name Caucasian Spruce
Family Pinaceae
USDA hardiness 4-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Found in pure stands or mixed with beech, pine and hornbeam, especially on shaded slopes, preferring deep protected ravines with adequate soil moisture at elevations of 300 - 2100 metres[74].
Range E. Europe to W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Picea orientalis Caucasian Spruce


Picea orientalis Caucasian Spruce
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vshioshvili/

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Red. Form: Pyramidal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Picea orientalis is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Inner bark  Seed  Shoots
Edible Uses: Tea

Young male catkins - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring[172]. Immature female cones - cooked. The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and syrupy[172]. Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[172]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails. Seed - raw. Too small and fiddly to be worthwhile unless you are desperate[172]. A refreshing tea, rich in vitamin C, can be made from the young shoot tips[172].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Vitamin C

None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Resin  Tannin  Wood

Tannin is obtained from the bark[74]. Turpentine is obtained from the bark and branches[74]. Wood - soft, white, easily cleaves, light, durable, has a good resonance. Used for construction, furniture etc[74]. It is also valued for its use in the pulp industry to make paper[171].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Pest tolerant, Screen, Specimen. Likes abundant moisture at the roots, if grown in drier areas it must be given a deep moist soil[11]. Tolerates poor peaty soils[200]. Succeeds in wet cold and shallow soils but is not very wind-firm in shallow soils[1]. Prefers a pH between 4 to 6[200]. Dislikes shade[200]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[11]. Resists wind exposure to some degree[200]. In some upland areas, especially over granitic or other base-poor soils, growth rate and health have been seriously affected by aluminium poisoning induced by acid rain[200]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[200]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[200]. There are a number of named forms selected for their ornamental value, most of these are dwarf cultivars[200]. Young trees are slow growing at first but from the age of about 5 - 6 years they can grow up to 1 metre a year and this can be maintained for the next 70 years or so. Growth virtually ceases by the time the tree is 90 - 100 years old[185]. Increases in girth follow the same pattern as height increases[185]. Trees probably do not live much longer than 100 years in Britain[185]. They are occasionally planted on a small scale in Europe as a timber tree[50]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[200]. The bruised leaves have a resinous aroma[245]. Special Features: Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - stratification will probably improve germination so sow fresh seed in the autumn in a cold frame if possible[80]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible in a cold frame[78]. A position in light shade is probably best[78]. Seed should not be allowed to dry out and should be stored in a cool place[80]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. They can be planted out into their permanent positions in early summer of the following year, or be placed in an outdoor nursery bed for a year or so to increase in size. They might need protection from spring frosts. Cuttings of semi-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 8cm long, August in a frame. Protect from frost. Forms roots in the spring[78]. Cuttings of mature terminal shoots, 5 - 10cm long, September/October in a cold frame. Takes 12 months[78]. Cuttings of soft to semi-ripe wood, early summer in a frame. Slow but sure.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey (northeast), Georgia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Picea abiesNorway SpruceTree30.0 2-7 FLMHNMWe214
Picea asperataChinese SpruceTree40.0 - MLMHNDM202
Picea brachytylaSargent SpruceTree40.0 7-10 FLMHNM202
Picea brewerianaWeeping Spruce, Brewer spruceTree15.0 5-9 SLMHNM202
Picea engelmanniiMountain Spruce, Engelmann spruceTree20.0 3-7 MLMHNMWe222
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Picea glehniiSakhalin SpruceTree30.0 4-7 FLMHNMWe202
Picea jezoensisYezo SpruceTree35.0 - MLMHNM213
Picea marianaBlack Spruce, Swamp SpruceTree20.0 3-5 SLMHNMWe223
Picea omorikaSerbian SpruceTree25.0 4-7 FLMHNMWe202
Picea pungensBlue Spruce, Colorado SpruceTree20.0 3-7 MLMHNDM203
Picea purpureaPurple-Coned SpruceTree45.0 4-7 MLMHNM202
Picea rubensRed SpruceTree30.0 6-7 FLMHNM213
Picea sitchensisSitka SpruceTree50.0 6-7 FLMHNMWe222
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Link.

Botanical References

1174200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

murat kara   Wed Apr 21 07:24:21 2004

Common name:Picea orientalis Eastern spruce

Murat KARA   Thu Apr 28 11:30:37 2005

Turkish name:Dogu Ladini

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