(Picea breweriana)
Brewer spruce, also known as weeping spruce, is native to the west coast of the United States in California and Oregon and is one of the rarest spruces in North America. Its foliage is distinctive, with level branches that have vertically pendulous branchelets giving it a weeping or curtain effect. Its needle-like leaves are 15-30mm long, dark and green soft. The bark is thin, scaly and grey-purple in colour. Cones are 8-15cm long and 2-4cm wide, larger than most species native to Canada. Brewer spruce grows 20-45m in height in good conditions with a trunk diameter up to 1.5m and is named in honour of the American botanist William H. Brewer. DNA analysis has shown that Brewer spruce is a basal species of Picea, implying that all species of spruces may have originated in North America.
Germination: Soak in water and let sit for 24 hours, then cold stratify for 30 days. Plant 1-2cm deep in moist potting soil.
Packet contains at least 50 seeds.