White Spruce has a very large native range over most of Canada, much of Alaska, New England, and around the northern end of the Great Lak...Read Morees. Its needles are about 1" long, rigid but not prickly, and sort of bluish or grayish green. Its small, soft, cylindrical cones are 1 to 2.5" long. Its twigs are light in color. Inner bark is silvery when freshly exposed. In the wild it grows along lakes and streams and gets to 75 feet high with a trunk to 2 feet in diameter. It is a reliable conifer for the Midwest and Northeast USA in landscapes. It is not as commonly planted in landscapes as the similar Colorado Spruce or as the Norway Spruce, but is 3rd. The Black Hills White Spruce is a more compact natural variety from that region. The Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a dwarf cultivar propagated by cuttings.
The Black Hills Spruce was recommended by our landscaper as a specimen tree. It is probably my favorite conifer in our yard because of i...Read Morets dark-green needles and the compact branches. This would make an awesome Christmas tree, however it would be a shame to cut it! As the eileenmlamb mentions, it is a somewhat slow grower--in 5 years our 5-footer is now over 8 feet. It is especially beautiful with a fresh layer of snow. Definitely worth the wait!
Saskatoon, SK (Zone 3a) | September 2005 | neutral
White spruce are a climax species of coniferous tree in the northern forests of Canada and the U.S., along with black spruce and balsam f...Read Moreir. They are long-lived and shade tolerant. They also provide habitat and food for many species of birds and rodents.
On a residential lot, one white spruce can be an impressive specimen while several can hide a house completely. A common mistake is to plant the tree too close to the house, thus forcing branches to be pruned to keep from touching the wall. White spruce retain their lower branches and can make an effective windbreak if planted on the north and west sides of a property.
Upon building our new home in 1996 we decided to get our first "live" Christmas tree that year. I purchased a lovely 6' white spruce and...Read More had it delivered. We only kept the tree inside about a week, so as to lessen any shock as it would need to be planted right after Christmas. My husband had the hole dug and ready, as here in zone 5 the ground can freeze quite early. The day after Christmas we planted this spruce, watered it and kept our fingers crossed for it to live.
Well, as you can see - 8 years later this tree has done wonderfully and has grown, now to an estimated 15'. We have never really had to do anything for it. It is planted in a moist, well drained area in full sun. Each year the base expands just a little further, and it produces wonderful pinecones about every other year, high in it's branches at the top. It keeps its rich deep green color year round. The needles, while short and "stiff" are not sharp like some conifers. Deer do not seem to bother these trees at all.
Don't overcrowd these trees by planting too closely together, Plant more as a specimen and you will get a beautiful "Christmas tree" look. I have seen several down the road that were planted as a "clump" and they look terrible.
Black Hills spruce is a natural variation of the white spruce native to South Dakota. Slow growing - may attain 6 to 8 feet in 10 years'...Read More time, dense and pyramidal in shape. Root system is shallow, fibrous, wide spreading. Does well in heavy soils that may remain moist, but also tolerates well-drained sites if watered during times of drought. Insect pests include spider mite, spruce needle miner, pine needle scale, yellow headed spruce sawfly, and aphids. Can be grown singly or in groups for a windbreak. Provides winter cover for birds, also may be browsed by deer. Seed: Cones are 1.5-2 inches in length and should be collected when they begin to open in the fall, mid August-October. Dry the cones in the sun until they are fully open and the seeds fall out easily when the cones are shaken. Spruce cones often have a high percentage of empty seeds. The seeds can be dewinged and stored.
White Spruce has a very large native range over most of Canada, much of Alaska, New England, and around the northern end of the Great Lak...Read More
The Black Hills Spruce was recommended by our landscaper as a specimen tree. It is probably my favorite conifer in our yard because of i...Read More
White spruce are a climax species of coniferous tree in the northern forests of Canada and the U.S., along with black spruce and balsam f...Read More
Tolerant of wind and wet soils. Silver-green foliage on pendulous branches. Can reach 75' in height.
A tree that has it's natural range along our northenmost states and far into Canada.
It has short needles 1/4" to 1/8" lon...Read More
Upon building our new home in 1996 we decided to get our first "live" Christmas tree that year. I purchased a lovely 6' white spruce and...Read More
Black Hills spruce is a natural variation of the white spruce native to South Dakota. Slow growing - may attain 6 to 8 feet in 10 years'...Read More