Picea abies ‘Gold Drift’ Norway Spruce

Plant Size Information

$44.99

Description

A weeping golden form! Pendulous branches and a drifting (upright) or weeping central leader. This Norway Spruce can be staked to form an upright weeper, or untrained to be a cascading mound. Yellow color is more pronounced in full sun but can burn young plants. Discovered as a sport on ‘Reflexa’ by Bob Fincham. (Many believe ‘Reflexa’ and ‘Inversa’ are the same plant.)

 

 

USDA Hardiness Map

Plant Form

‘Gold Drift’ is a remarkable golden cultivar of Norway Spruce with a mounding habit that can be staked into an upright, weeping form. Bob Fincham discovered it in 1990 on a branch of Picea abies ‘Reflexa’ in Eatonville, Washington. Since then, it has become a sought-after variety in the nursery trade as one of the beautiful golden conifers.
The ‘Gold Drift’ cultivar grows at an intermediate rate, adding about 6″ to 9″ to its height each year. If staked upright, it will reach a size of 6′ × 2′ in 10 years. In early spring, lime-green needles emerge on the drooping branches, turning a vibrant golden-yellow in the sun. While young, the light-colored needles can be susceptible to burning, especially in hotter areas of their 3 to 8 hardiness zones. However, they become more sun-tolerant with age and maintain their color throughout the season. By winter, the golden color softens and becomes more subdued. ‘Gold Drift’ thrives in cooler climates but may find it difficult in the heat and humidity of southern regions.
The ‘Gold Drift’ cultivar is a versatile little tree that can thrive in both full sun and partial shade, with its golden color appearing more vibrant in the sun. It requires moist, slightly acidic, well-draining soil and can tolerate various soil types. When first planted, it needs to be watered well and then regularly for the first year. Once established, ‘Gold Drift’ can tolerate dry soil and becomes somewhat drought-tolerant. If grown in a container, it will need to be watered more frequently since the soil in a pot dries out quicker than in the ground.
Its small, narrow size, golden color, and weeping form make ‘Gold Drift’ a standout specimen plant in a sunny to partially shady garden. Whether growing in a line as a border tree, in a rock garden, in a conifer grouping, in a city garden, or in a container, it is easy to grow in a variety of settings. In addition to its other attributes, deer, dry soil, and urban pollution don’t bother it.
Planted around and nearby, companion plants can enhance the tree with various textures and colors, but they need the same cultural requirements as ‘Gold Drift.’ Larger conifers and dark green evergreens, such as arborvitaes, cryptomerias, firs, pines, spruces, hollies, or magnolias, provide a green backdrop to showcase the tree’s golden color. Deciduous shrubs and small trees, like Japanese maples, redbuds, hydrangeas, buddleias, barberries, roses of Sharon, smoke trees, and crape myrtles, offer a variety of textures and colors that contrast with the shape and color of ‘Gold Drift.’

Additional information

Weight N/A
Latin Name

Picea abies 'Gold Drift'

Common name

Gold Drift Norway Spruce

Sun Exposure

Sun/Part Shade

ANNUAL GROWTH

6-9"

HxW@10 Years

6'x2'

Hardiness Zone

Zones 4-8

Color

Growth Rate

Form

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