Birds Nest Spruce

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

4-5 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

The Birds Nest Spruce is a dwarf conifer that adds a pop of color to an outdoor space all year long. This hardy and compact shrub is also known as Picea abies Nidiformis and features yellowish-green needles that will turn grey-green with time. This plant naturally maintains a full and dense look with a rounded growth habit. This shrub will develop a slight dip in the center due to the mostly horizontal branches, which earned the name Birds Nest Spruce. 

This compact shrub makes a wonderful border or edge plant. Use the Birds Nest Spruce to define a property line, provide a buffer between a front yard and the street, or conceal a foundation wall. This plant is a slower-grower that will spread with time but ultimately reach about 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. The Birds Nest Spruce is a perennial in USDA zones 3 through 8.

Birds Nest Spruce Care

Plant this shrub in full sun to partial shade. Ideally, the Birds Nest Spruce should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight. The soil must be rich, acidic, and moist but well-draining. Water the plant weekly during the first year and saturate the soil when watering to help establish the root system. By the second growing season, the plant should be self-sustaining. 

Spruce are not heavy feeders, so feeding is unnecessary. Trim the plant to shape it as needed during the late winter or early spring.

Birds Nest Spruce Spacing

This evergreen shrub will grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. Create a continuous hedge by spacing plants 4 to 5 feet apart.