Common Name: Serbian Spruce

General Information

Picea omorika is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall.
The plant was formerly valued for its wood, but its increasing rarity have led to its harvest being banned in most areas. It also has a range of traditional food uses, thoughis little, if at all, harvested for this at present.
Picea omorika is restricted to fewer than ten locations, one representing the main part of the species natural range with less than 30 fragmented populations of various size, and a small number of disjunct locations. The natural range of this species has been in contraction since the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, as expected for a cold-adapted species. Recent fieldwork indicates that there is a continuing (albeit slow) decline in the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, quality of habitat and number of mature individuals in some locations. This is primarily due to poor regeneration, inability to compete with associated tree species and climate changes..The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe - Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Habitat

Steep north to northwest facing limestone slopes (sometimes precipitous) which overlay igneous material; at elevations from 800 - 1,500 metres[]. Plants are confined to a few stands on limestone mountains[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Picea omorika is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25°c when fully dormant[].
Likes abundant moisture at the roots, if grown in drier areas it must be given a deep moist soil[]. Tolerates poor peaty soils[]. Succeeds in wet cold and shallow soils but is not very wind-firm in shallow soils[]. Prefers a pH between 4 to 6 but it also succeeds in pure chalk soils[]. Dislikes shade[]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[]. Resists wind exposure to some degree[].
In some upland areas, especially over granitic or other base-poor soils, growth rate and health have been seriously affected by aluminium poisoning induced by acid rain[].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[]. There are a number of named forms selected for their ornamental value, most of these are dwarf cultivars[].
A fast growing tree from its second year of growth. Two to three years after planting out new shoots 1 metre long may be produced[]. Growth takes place from mid-May to the end of July. Height increase is moderate over a long term basis, averaging around 50cm a year[].
Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[].
Occasionally planted as a timber tree in Britain, it produces almost the same bulk of timber as the Norway spruce (Picea abies) but is more frost tolerant and can be grown in frosty hollows[] because it comes into leaf quite late and it is not damaged by late frosts[]. This species is widely cultivated as a timber tree in regions too dry or liable to late frosts for P. sitchensis to do well[].
This species is notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Young male catkins - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring[].
Immature female cones - cooked. The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and syrupy[].

Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails

Seed - raw. Too small and fiddly to be worthwhile unless you are desperate[].

A refreshing tea, rich in vitamin C, can be made from the young shoot tips[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Moderately wind resistant, it is sometimes planted in shelterbelts.

Other Uses

Wood. It has been used to make barrels[] and is valued for its use in the pulp industry to make paper[].

Propagation

Seed - stratification will probably improve germination so sow fresh seed in the autumn in a cold frame if possible[]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible in a cold frame[]. A position in light shade is probably best[]. Seed should not be allowed to dry out and should be stored in a cool place[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. They can be planted out into their permanent positions in early summer of the following year, or be placed in an outdoor nursery bed for a year or so to increase in size. They might need protection from spring frosts.
Cuttings of semi-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 8cm long, August in a frame. Protect from frost. Forms roots in the spring[].
Cuttings of mature terminal shoots, 5 - 10cm long, September/early autumn in a cold frame. Takes 12 months[].
Cuttings of soft to semi-ripe wood, early summer in a frame. Slow but sure.