skip to main content

Four years of Picea orientalis 'Tom Thumb Gold'

firefightergardener

10 years ago

I have two specimens in my gardens, both with some shade elements, but both coming off their 'training wheels' shade in the following year. I've shown both plants, from the last four years, and I will try and follow up with some photos this year after neighbors were moved to brighter pastures and both plants receive about 8 hours of direct sun this year. I wouldn't recommend it for new plants in your own garden, especially in places outside the Pacific Northwest, but 4 hours should be fine as long as you give it regular moisture.

The front specimen, shaded mildly by an Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira' and a few local friendly conifers.

2009
{{gwi:639884}}
2010
{{gwi:639885}}
2011
{{gwi:639886}}
2012
{{gwi:639887}}

My backyard specimen, first shaded by a Buddha then by a Chamaecyparis, it's more likely to cook this year but it might also be 'just right'.

2010
{{gwi:639888}}
2011
{{gwi:639889}}
2012
{{gwi:639890}}
2013
{{gwi:639891}}
Both plants are from Bob Fincham, Coenosium Gardens.

-Will

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

mikebotann
10 years ago
I like the gradation showing the affects of sun and shade. It sure tells you where it can be placed to show it at it's best.
Nice presentation, Will!
Mike
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
i am still seeing grass ... lol ...

so you attribute all the burn to sun??? ... i guess i could presume you water at will .. thats a pun ... plus the PNw and your moderate temps rule out drought and prolonged high heat ... and i suppose there is no lingering night heat .... and you dont have sand.... so what else could it be ...

mine is in full shade ... but unfortunately.. it doesnt color as yellow as one might wish ...

thanks for the pix ... and the effort to post them

ken

ps: do you grow momma???? .... skylands... same sun problems???? .. i am still working on the worlds ugliest skylands ... seems after ten years.. it might be getting enough roots down to grow up a little ... but also.. now that i think about it.. the oaks have provided much more shade .... but burn was never its only problem ... leader refusal was a bigger issue ...
Related Discussions
Picea orientalis 'Skylands' vs 'Aureospicata'
Q
Comments (29)
Here are two pictures I took of P. orientalis Ã¯Â¿Â½SkylandsÃ¯Â¿Â½ at the National Arboretum in Washington, D. C. This first is a full length view of tree something like 25 feet tall. I like the general outline/form, which is a bit more narrow than the species, and is perhaps a bit more graceful. What I donÃ¯Â¿Â½t especially like is the color, which many people like, but which I feel looks just a bit like a sick tree with its washed-out yellow. Here is a close-up. Notice especially the color of the foliage more than one year old. This is not a nice yellow color. But this tree is growing completely in the open in a fairly hot Z7. It may look better with some protection from afternoon sun. For a spruce with a somewhat golden color I prefer P. abies Ã¯Â¿Â½Aurea.Ã¯Â¿Â½ But its color is more of a yellow-green than a real yellow. The color is especially nice in the spring and early summer, but it is persistent to some degree all year. As for P. orientalis Ã¯Â¿Â½AureospicataÃ¯Â¿Â½, the yellow of the newly growing tips is a very nice yellow color, and it is very showy. But it lasts for at most two weeks if the spring weather is cloudy and cool. As the yellow fades, the new growth turns to a relatively bright green, and after that it is the same color as any other oriental spruce. Apart from the spring shoots being a bright yellow, this tree looks much like the species, but is perhaps a bit more slow growing with foliage perhaps a bit more dense than the species. It eventually can grow moderately large, as can Ã¯Â¿Â½SkylandsÃ¯Â¿Â½. --Spruce
...See More
Picea orientalis photo gallery 2010
Q
Comments (8)
Picea orientalis 'Nutans'. With significant character. Seems happy growing sideways. Probably have to stake it to keep it from tipping. 'Conneticut Turnpike'. A medium dwarf. 'Early Gold'. One of the many gold-pushing oriental spruce. I'm trying to log time-based photos of all them to determine if any have better/more interesting characteristics. This one is in part shade. 'Pendula'? Sold to me as 'Glauca Pendula'. Not too glauca lol. 'Nana Compacta' 'Spring Frost'. Also in a little shade. 'Silver Seedling'. LOTS of shade, still a nice color. -Will
...See More
Picea orientalis parade
Q
Comments (47)
Wow. age of Skylands? Picea orientalis Oregon grown P+3 (Quick greenhouse then transplanted 3 years minimum before it ever got to me). My first year growing corn. 'Sugar Buns' block planted May21 photo from July5: 5 blocks of Sweet Corn. (last block didn't plant) and block prior still needs weeding (blocks are 30' x 30' (10m x 10m entire garden = 60m x 10m). I'm enjoying this more than my conifers dare i say: Me...well, I'm 35 :0) Dax
...See More
Anyone has grown Picea orientalis 'Firefly'..
Q
Comments (4)
Al, I went back to the nursery again today to find out if it got scalded by too much sun. Yes, it did, but just at the top, the rest of the tree looks fantastic, no sign of burning at all. I like it so much, but darnÃ¢ÂÂ¦ The spot where I want to plant it is an open space, next to a P.P Fat Albert, with full sun... whole day. Arrggg! Very frustrated. I do not know if it won't get burnt when It gets older. I saw a mature Skyland (30ft tall) and it is completely immune to sunburn. I hope Firefly would behave better as it gets older. I might just take my chance because I like it so much. J.N
...See More
firefightergardener
Original Author
10 years ago
That's the last grass you'll see in my photos Ken, at least of the growable kind - you know the other grass is legal here in my state.

I have grown Skylands without issue but I've also been conservative about it's location. I've finally moved a few to 8 hours sun and they are coloring up nicely.

In Summer, my little 'Tom Thumb Gold' plants will only get a drink once or twice a month, and not deep watering at that. I'd certainly say it's a combination of sun and lack of water, but more so the sun - we get roasted with 16+ hours of daylight here in Summer and very few clouds.

I'll post some photos in May/June/July/August this year and see how it tans.

-Will
outback63 Dennison
10 years ago
This cultivar performance for good color is all about correct placement. If you can grow this cultivar under the canopy of a larger tree, in my case Metasequoia glypt. 'Miss Grace', it does quite well. Offer it the morning sun that goes to about noon or better. Then the afternoon sun is filtered leafing only 'Miss Grace can offer. You can see it at the top of the photo. That combination results in 'Tom Thumb Gold ' coloring up nicely and not being burned by the afternoon sun. It works for me..

Dave

{{gwi:673721}}

This post was edited by Davesconifers on Tue, Jan 28, 14 at 11:47

Related Stories

PLANTING IDEAS Designing With Conifers: Exploring Color

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Colorful, structural and adaptable, conifers are waiting to transform your garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Boxwood Alternatives Bring the Chelsea Flower Show to You

Don’t let box blight limit your plans to borrow garden design ideas from the renowned British event

INDUSTRIAL STYLE Steampunk for the Powder Room

By Mitchell Parker

Pipes, gauges, dirigibles — old, in-your-face technology has romantic appeal in the iPhone age. Here's how to celebrate its glories at home

FEEL-GOOD HOME 15 Cozy Book Nooks and What They Want You to Read

By Becky Harris

Put the beach reads away; these comfy spaces are creating a fall reading list. What books do they suggest to you?

LIFE Houzz Call: What Makes Your House Feel Like Home?

By Amber Hopman

Sometimes just one thing gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling. Let us know what it is for you

FALL GARDENING 6 Trees You'll Fall For

By Therese Ciesinski

Don’t put down that spade! Autumn is the perfect time for planting these trees

DECORATING GUIDES Houzz Tour: A Family Home Comes Together, One Piece at a Time

By Annie Thornton

A decorator uses her expert eye to outfit her family’s home with finds from thrift stores, online resale sites and yard sales

PHOTO FLIP 94 Dream Bedscapes

By Sheila Schmitz

Picture yourself in one of these settings for a stylish night’s sleep

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Low-Growing Hedges That Make Good Neighbors

Define garden areas or borders without blocking the view, with these evergreen shrubs that take kindly to trimming

CONTEMPORARY HOMES Houzz Tour: Sonoma Home Maximizes Space With a Clever and Flexible Plan

By Becky Harris

A second house on a lot integrates with its downtown neighborhood and makes the most of its location and views

Sponsored

Emily Rudolph Interiors

27 Reviews

Hands-On & Collaborative Columbus Interior Designer

More Discussions

Table Mnt pine male cones

15

Metasequoia glyptostroboides in z4

18

Old and big Virginia juniper in MD

7

Color change mechanisms in conifers with seasonal color variation

2

Front of the house 24 years later

6