Black spruce | Picea mariana | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Pine
Family (botanic) Pinaceae
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Evergreen (foliage year-round)
Native locale North America
Size range Medium tree (25-40 feet), Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago)
Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil, Wet soil
Drought tolerance Moderately sensitive
Other tolerances Occasional drought, Wet sites
Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late winter, early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
Shape or form Narrow, Pyramidal, Upright
Growth rate Slow

More Information

Size and Form

A black spruce can get 30 to 50 feet high and 20 to 30 feet wide. The tree is spire-like, narrow and conical with descending branches. The lower limbs sweep the ground.

Native Geographic Location and Habitat

Black spruce is native to northern North America, from Newfoundland to Alaska, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and central British Columbia. In its more southern range, it is found growing around bogs and swamps.

Pollinators and Wildlife

The twigs, leaves, and seeds of the black spruce are important food for wildlife. This tree is valuable as a nesting site for birds.

Bark Description

Black spruce bark is dark gray, thin, and scaly. As the bark breaks into scales, the inner green bark is revealed.

Leaf Description

The blue green, stiff needles are attached singly to the stem and are paler underneath.

Cone Description

The black spruce cones are the smallest of all of the spruces. They are rounded to spindle-shaped, dark purple, ripening to red-brown. They are produced in dense clusters in the top of the tree. Cones are known to persist for several years.

Care Knowledge

Plant Care

Black spruce does best in cold northern climates. It may be stressed in warm summers or above zone 6 temperatures. The shallow, spreading root system benefits from a 3 to 4 inch layer of organic mulch. Black spruce needs very little in the way of pruning. All evergreens experience seasonal needle fall in autumn. The interior, older needles turn brown and drop.

Pests, Diseases, and Tolerances

There aren’t any serious disease or insect problems, but needle rusts and cankers can occur. Black spruce is prone to wind throw (uprooting by wind), due to its shallow root system.