On alkaline soils with hot summers, humid and snowy regions at an altitude of about 700 - 1500 m.
The approximate boundary of the range passes in the Tara Mountains of the middle and upper Dvina. It was first discovered in 1877 by Professor PANCIC. Today it is widespread and is one of the most frequently planted conifers.
An evergreen large, straight as a candle tree with a narrow - conical or almost columnar crown. The branches are horizontal, picturesquely hanging in the lower part of the trunk, with raised ends of the branches. In a free, single planting, the branches grow from the ground.
15 - 25 (30) m in height and 2.5 - 4 m in width. Annual growth in height 35 cm, in width 15 cm. With age, the growth rate decreases.
Needles are needle-like, 8-18 mm long. Bottom with two wide white stripes. Top shiny, dark green.
Male flowers are very decorative, red-yellow. Female flowers are oblong-ovoid, vertical, purple-red. Blooms in May.
Cones are ovoid-oblong, 3-6 cm long, 1 cm in diameter. Young ones are purple-violet, later shiny-brown. Young plants have very numerous, resinous ones. On heavy soils it grows more slowly and has a shorter lifespan.
Superficial root system, but slightly deeper than that of Norway spruce.
Light-loving.
Prefers moderately dry and moist soils, very undemanding. Grows well on both calcareous and primary rocks. Does not tolerate soil compaction with stagnant water. Grows best on drained substrates.
Frost-resistant, rarely affected by diseases, suffers in areas of new buildings, on compacted soils, from a lack of magnesium. Mandatory spring application of magnesium. Tolerates urban climate. Less shade-tolerant than Norway spruce. Due to the flat root system, single solitaires are windbreaks.
