(Note: this tree is one of three in the Select Tree Evaluation Program)

Common Name: White Spruce

Scientific Name: Picea glauca

Family: Pinaceae

Native Habitat: North to Alaska, south to Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Minnesota and New York.  Introduced in 1700.

This Tree in Colorado: White Spruce is one of the few trans-continental trees in North America. The spire-like shape, fine texture, and medium size make White Spruce a useful tree in our landscapes. It transplants easily and is adapted to the mountain west.  

Habit: Abroad, dense pyramid in youth, becoming tall, fairly narrow, dense spire, compact and regular, with horizontal to ascending branches.

Landscape Value: With the over-planting of Colorado Blue Spruce, this species can be used to diversify the landscape.  It is a shade-tolerant tree and can be used as an infill planting near canopy shade trees. 

Zones: White Spruce is very cold  tolerant and can survive  temperatures from zones 2-6.  

Size/Growth Rate:   40' to 60', medium growth rate.

Cones: Medium chestnut-brown and the scales have a smooth margin.   Cones are often gathered from parks and used for making crafts.

Needles: Persistent for several years, crowded on the upper side of the stem, pale green or dull blue-green, 1/2" to 3/4" long.

Bark: Thin, flaky or scaly, ashy brown; freshly exposed layer somewhat silvery.

Insects and Diseases: The gall aphid does cause slight aesthetic damage, but not to the extent as on the other spruce.  

Other varieties: The variety densata is fould in the Black Hills and has slightly shorter needles the the species.  The dwarf Alberta Spruce is a cultivar of Picea glauca.

Information Sources:

• Tim Buchanan, City of Fort Collins Forestry Division

• Dirr, Michael Dr., "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants," 1990

Photo Sources:

• Tim Buchanan, City of Fort Collins Forestry Division

• Iowa State University's Trees and Shrubs of the Campus