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Description:

A hybrid, nest type spruce with short, soft silvery blue needles; slow growing, slowly building height and width; durable and very hardy, an excellent choice for detail use in the landscape

Ornamental Features

Machala Hybrid Spruce is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its interestingly mounded form. It has attractive silvery blue evergreen foliage. The needles are highly ornamental and remain silvery blue throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Machala Hybrid Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Machala Hybrid Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Machala Hybrid Spruce will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.