Do Spruce Trees Grow in Louisville, Kentucky?

Large Varieties for Louisville

• Spruce is not a compact tree, but some common varieties that grow in Louisville are especially large. For instance, the pyramidal Norway spruce (Picea abies), which grows in USDA zones 2 through 7, reaches heights of 80 to 100 feet. Perhaps no spruce is as iconic as the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens). Although this 50 to 70 foot tall tree comes from the Rockies, it thrives in USDA zones 2 through 8. The white spruce (Picea glauca), which also sports blue-green needles, grows up to 60 feet in USDA zones 2 to 6.

Smaller Varieties

• If you're working with a smaller space in Louisville, the squat, conical Black Hills spruce (Picea glauca “Densata”) -- which grows in USDA zones 2 to 6 -- reaches mature heights of 30 to 60 feet. For an even more compact, Louisville-friendly choice, the dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca “Conica”) lends its dense, light-green foliage to USDA zones 2 through 6 as well.

Soil Requirements

• As is the case across the genus, spruce trees that thrive in Louisville are not terribly particular about soil. These trees can grow in soil with clay, loam or sandy consistencies, and they flourish in soils with an acidic or slightly alkaline pH range. This shouldn't pose a problem for Louisville green thumbs, as Jefferson County features a selection of loamy, sandy and clay soils. Regardless of consistency, spruce trees prefer moist, well-drained soil.

Water Requirements

• Louisville receives an average of about 44 inches of rainfall per year, or about 3 to 5 inches per month, according to data from the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Oftentimes, rainfall in the region fulfills the spruce's water requirements -- whether by rainfall or by hose, just be sure your spruce is watered once every week or two. When watering the tree yourself, water about 12 inches down through the soil to feed the tree's root system.