Serbian Spruce
Picea omorika
Learn about the Serbian spruce including when and why it was planted, how to identify it, and where to find it on campus.
Tree Facts
Family: Pinaceae
Type
Evergreen
Size
Large (greater than 50 feet)
Traits
- Hanging branches
- Purple cones when young
- Glossy, dark green needles
- Susceptible to aphids, scale, and sooty mold
Native Range
- Balkan Mountains (western Serbia to eastern Bosnia)
Story of the Tree
Serbian spruce trees were planted on the front side of the Temple of Justice. They stand narrow and upright, perfectly complementing the building's neo-classic columns.
This is an endangered tree species in its native countries, Serbia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, where it has only a few patches of habitat left. However, it is an adaptable tree that tolerates drought well.
