White Spruce Description

Size

• White spruce tree is a member of the pine family and has a mature height of up to 80 feet in its native habitat. Mature trees develop a broadly conical to spirelike form with slightly drooping branches. Cultivated trees grow 40 to 60 feet tall with a columnar shape. White spruce is very dense textured, making it a tree of choice for hedges and windbreaks.

Foliage

• The branches of white spruce are covered with less than ½- to ¾-inch needles in varying shades of green including silver green, blue green or green. The color of the fragrant, alternate foliage remains unchanged throughout the year. The leaves release a pungent odor when crushed. The four-sided needles have white lines along the bottom and those growing on the lower side of the branch turn upward and wrap around the twigs.

Flower and Cones

• White spruce blooms with small, red or yellow flowers that develop into 1- to 3-inch-long, elongated cones. Brown in color, the cones have a dry, hard coating and do not attract any wildlife. The cones are attached directly to the base of the branches and contain winged seeds. The soft and flexible scales are fan-shaped with smooth tips. The cones stay on tree for a year after opening and releasing the seeds.

Growth Conditions

• Plant the white spruce tree in an area of full to partial sun for best growth. The tree adapts well to a variety of well-drained soil types including clay, sand and loam. White spruce is highly drought tolerant and thrives in both acidic or slightly alkaline soils. Established trees tolerate brief periods of wet soil. The tree is easily propagated with seed or cuttings and is hardy in USDA Zones 2a to 6b.