Jerač Columnar Spruce

A true biological curiosity hidden in the pristine forests of Jatna.

• an unusually shaped spruce caused by a growth mutation
• a dendrological monument

A Remarkable Natural Form

This unusually shaped spruce, with a circumference of 91.5 cm, a diameter of almost 30 cm, and a height of 23 meters, has a very narrow and densely grown crown. At first glance it looks very similar to a cypress, but it is in fact a spruce.

Its unusual form is most likely the result of a mutation during the growth process, as such columnar spruces are otherwise typical of high-mountain environments. The Jerač Columnar Spruce, however, grows at only 700 meters above sea level. It differs from alpine specimens in having a much denser crown, while its branches are shorter, more curved, and extend almost down to the trunk.

Due to its biological uniqueness, it was declared a dendrological natural monument in 1998 by decree of the Municipality of Radeče.

Where can you find it?

The Jerač Columnar Spruce grows in the forests of Jatna, along the Svibno Tourist and Historical Forest Educational Trail.