Picea orientalis ‘Skylands’ Oriental Spruce

Skylands Oriental Spruce is a golden variety of Oriental Spruce native to the Caucasus region and northeast Turkey. It was initially named Picea orientalis ‘Aurea Compacta,’ but since it was discovered at the Skylands Botanical Garden in New Jersey, it was renamed P. orientalis ‘Skylands.’ In 1979, it was introduced into the nursery trade and was an instant hit. Its remarkable color and hardiness won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 2012.
Skylands grows at a moderate rate of about 6″-9″ per year, attaining a height and width of 10′-15 × 6′-8′ in 10 years. When young, the plant has an irregular form but becomes broadly conical after several years. At maturity, it becomes narrowly conical at 35′ high and 12′ wide. Its short needles emerge as bright yellow on the exterior branches in full sun and yellow-green in partial shade. Needles on the interior branches remain green. The bright yellow color lasts through the spring and early part of the summer but softens to golden as the season progresses and holds the color through the winter. Red pollen cones and purple seed cones decorate the tree in spring, making a bright contrast with the yellow needles.
Skylands will grow in full sun and tolerate some light shade. It does best in cool climates and less well in the heat and humidity of southern states. While establishing, it needs protection from hot afternoon sun to prevent its needles from scorching, especially in the warmer regions of its 4-8 hardiness zones. It prefers rich soils but will tolerate loam, sand, or clay if they are well-draining. The soil should be kept moist and not be allowed to dry out while the tree is young, and it will become moderately drought-tolerant once established. Container-grown trees need more frequent watering since the soil dries out quicker in a pot than in the ground.
This colorful spruce is a good example of an accent or specimen tree for a limited space. It is beautiful in rock gardens, conifer gardens, Asian gardens, or at the corner of a building. To be at its most colorful, it should not be crowded with other trees so that sunlight can reach as many of the branches as possible.
Companions for Skylands are plants that complement the tree with color and texture. The purple of Siberian Iris goes well with the yellow foliage. Lily-of-the-valley, lungwort, hellebores, hostas, hydrangeas, Chinese fringe flowers, barberries, and oriental lilies also complement the tree’s colors and make an attractive contrast.