I am thinking of planting a Bruns Weeping Serbian Spruce in a mostly sunny spot in my garden. From what I have learned, it appears to be rather small and narrow, suitable for a smaller yard–and very attractive.
Are there any issues that I should be aware of, besides the fact that it is pricey? The write-up I found online says it was voted 2007 Collectors Conifer of the Year by the American Conifer Society, and is more resistant to insects than most spruces.
When you are at the stage of seeking a source for Picea omorika ‘Pendula Bruns,’ you may want to know that there is sometimes a bit of confusion between ‘Bruns’ and ‘Pendula Bruns’. Make sure the nursery source has distinguished between these two cultivars.
There is a Michigan State University Department of Horticulture publication entitled “Conifer Corner.” The April 2008 issue focuses on narrow conifers, and describes the tree in which you are interested. The author of the article, Prof. Bert Cregg, wrote about this tree in another issue on weeping conifers. According to Cregg, “it’s always hard to go wrong with a Serbian spruce. ‘Pendula Bruns’ is a little slower growing and has a little tighter form than ‘Pendula’ and ‘Berliners Weeper.'”
In Gardening with Conifers by Adrian and Richard Bloom (Firefly Books, 2002), the authors list ‘Pendula Bruns’ as a cultivar to seek out: “Its leading shoot needs training for a few years, then its branches cascade down the trunk, making an arresting narrow specimen.” Richard Bitner’s Conifers for Gardens (Timber Press, 2007) says of Picea omorika that it “should be planted in full sun on well-drained soil. It tolerates heat, humidity, and wind, and is not damaged by snow. Many consider it a good choice for urban landscapes because it will tolerate atmosphere pollution better than most spruces and is also forbearing of limestone soil. It is resistant to the pests and diseases that plague many other spruces.” Of ‘Pendula Bruns’ the author says: “Very narrow selection with strongly pendulous side branches. Stunning!”
Nothing I found suggested specific pest and disease problems associated with this cultivar. Penn State University (now archived) cites Serbian spruce as being generally less prone to problems, keeping in mind that they are writing about the East Coast:
“Few diseases appear to bother Serbian spruce in the mid-Atlantic region. Some sources list aphids, mites, scale and budworm as potential insect problems, however so far there are no reports of these pests significantly affecting the tree in Pennsylvania. The notable exception is White Pine weevil. This pest will destroy the central leader and can seriously disfigure Serbian spruce if not controlled.”
For information on problems affecting spruce trees generally, see Oregon State University’s Online Guide to Plant Disease Control website. (Search by plant name.)
Considering the information from the sources above, this sounds like a fantastic tree choice for your garden.