White spruce is a large, pyramidal evergreen with aromatic foliage and uniform habit. This popular garden conifer is native to Canada and the northwestern United States. When sited properly white spruce can be a long-lived attractive addition to any landscape.
This plant has some cultivated varieties. Go to list of cultivars.
Botanical name:
All Common Names:
Family (English):
Family (Botanic):
Planting Site:
- Residential and parks
Tree or Plant Type:
- Tree
Foliage:
- Evergreen (foliage year-round)
Native Locale:
- North America
Landscape Uses:
- Screen,
- Shade tree,
- Specimen,
- Windbreak
Size Range:
- Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature Height:
Mature Width:
Light Exposure:
- Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily),
- Partial sun/shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness Zones:
- Zone 2,
- Zone 3,
- Zone 4,
- Zone 5 (Chicago),
- Zone 6
Soil Preference:
- Moist, well-drained soil
Acid Soils:
- Tolerant
Alkaline Soils:
- Moderately Tolerant
Salt Spray:
- Intolerant
Soil Salt:
- Intolerant
Drought Conditions:
- Intolerant
Poor Drainage:
- Intolerant
Season of Interest:
- Early winter,
- Mid winter,
- Late winter,
- Early spring,
- Mid spring,
- Late spring,
- Early summer,
- Mid summer,
- Late summer,
- Early fall,
- Mid fall,
- Late fall
Flower Color & Fragrance:
- Inconspicuous
Shape or Form:
- Pyramidal
Growth Rate:
- Slow
Transplants Well:
- Yes
Wildlife:
- Birds,
- Browsers,
- Small mammals
More Information:
Tree & Plant Care
Best in full sun. Tolerant of clay soil but good drainage is a must.
The shallow, spreading root system benefits from a 3-4” layer of organic mulch.
Spruce need very little in the way of pruning.
Disease, pests, and problems
Cankers, root rots and needlecast diseases.
Bagworm, sawfly and needle miners. One of the hosts for eastern spruce gall adelgids.
Native geographic location and habitat
Native to Canada and the northwestern United States in moist, cool climates.
Bark color and texture
Gray to silvery gray and scaly or flaky.
Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture
Evergreen. Pale green pointed needles are 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, 4-sided, often crowded on the upper surface of the stem.
The aromatic needles can persist for 3 to 4 years before dropping.
Flower arrangement, shape, and size
Both male and female flowers are small and insignificant, found on the same tree.
Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions
White Spruce has the smallest cones of any of the spruces, typically 1 to 2 inches long, cylindrical and pendulous, often clustered near the top of the tree. They are a medium green color throughout much of the summer, and turn brown in autumn and winter. Cones scales are thin, rounded and have smooth margins. A favorite of many birds.
Cultivars and their differences
Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica'): 6 to 8 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide; pyramidal; extremely slow, seldom produces cones. Good for small spaces.
Black Hills Spruce (Picea glauca var. densata): 20 to 40 feet high and 10 to 20 feet wide, very narrow, dense form, slow growing. Good for space restrictions, screen or windbreak.