This large coniferous tree has a solitary trunk with thick scaly greyish-brown bark and upturned spreading branches that form a broad conical habit. It has stiff bluish-green needle-like leaves and produces purplish-brown female cones during spring.

Hardiness zones 5 to 8 

Picea asperata is naturally found in south-west China growing in the high mountain forest and valley floors and commonly associated with rivers from an altitude of 2,400 m to 3,600 m (10,800 ft).

 It prefers an open sunny position and grows in deep well-drained moderately fertile moist soils that are tending acidic pH 4-6. It is frost, snow and wind tolerant but dislikes drought, atmospheric pollution and shaded conditions. 

Dragon Spruce is grown for its conical habit and attractive foliage.  It is planted in parks and gardens as a lawn specimen tree or used in mountain woodland settings. It is suitable to mountainous and near coastal regions establishing in 5-8 years and is long-lived. In its native habitat it is under threat from deforestation as the timber is widely used for such things as, railway sleepers and furniture manufacturing or wood pulp. ID 3457
 
Picea (pi-SEE-ah) asperata (AS-pay-RAH-tah)

Pinaceae (py-NAY-see-ee)
Larches, spruces, pines, firs, hemlocks and cedars