A genus of 45 species of trees that are related to the Firs. The main difference is that the Spruces have sharp pointed leaves and the Firs do not. The Spruces generally prefer deep, fertile, acidic, well drained soil. The Spruces respond well to nitrogen fertilizers with rapid growth.
Many are valued to their lumber with is strong yet light and soft.
Propagation is from seed which should be soaked for 24 hours before germinating.
Cuttings and grafting is also used for the cultivars.
Many plants do not grow well under Spruces as the roots release allelpathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of under plants. Strawberries are an exception and grow very well under a fine spruce needle mulch.
* photos taken on Dec 8 2011 in Ellicott City, MD
Picea abies ( Norway Spruce )
Native to northern Europe, this is one of the most commonly planted conifers in northeast North America. The Norway Spruce can easily exceed 100 feet in height ( 130 x 60 x 5 at Hamilton College, Clinton, NY ) and in the famous Black Forest in Germany some have lived 400 years and grown to truly massive sizes of 270 x 60 feet with trunk diameters as large as 11 feet! It is also very fast growing and in cool summer climates is capable of 4 feet in a single year. Other recorded growth rates include: 5 years - 13 x 7 feet, 20 years - 60 x 23 feet; 30 years - 70 feet; 300 years - 190 feet; largest in Bosnia - 207 feet in Perucica.
The Norway Spruce only grows well in areas exceeding 30 inches of rainfall a year but is extremely cold hardy growing in areas from zone 2 to 7 and can tolerate -50 F.
Tolerant of harsh climates, even thriving in Alberta. It hates pollution and competition from sod & weeds when young. It loves mulch and grows best on deep, rich, cool acid well drained soil.
Thrives only in areas with 30 inches or more of rainfall per year.
The sharp 1 inch needles are dark green all year and the long brown cones are up to 7 inches long.
* photos from family photo album taken near Frohberg, Germany
* photos taken on January 2010 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on April 2 2010 in Howard County, MD
* photo taken on April 5 2010 in Wilkes-Barre, PA
* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD
* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour
* photos taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA
* photos taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario
* photos taken on August 4 2010 in Stratford, Ontario
* photo of unknown internet source
* photos taken on July 31 2011 in Hyde Park, NY
* photo taken on Aug 4 near Blyth, Ontario
* photo taken on Oct 17 2013 in Olney, MD
* photos taken on Oct 31 2013 in Towson, MD
Aarburg
A very fast growing, large Weeping Norway with a strong central leader and weeping side branches. It does not need to be staked to encourage height.
Some records include: fastest growth rate - 3 feet; 10 years - 14 x 4 feet.
Acrocona
Compact form of broad-pyramidal habit and pendulous branches many ending with large red cones. Some records include: 10 years - 8 x 6 feet; largest on record - 33 x 27 feet.
The foliage is gray-green.
Argentea
white variegated leaves
Argenteospicata
Slow growing, reaching up to 10 feet in 10 years, with an eventual maximum height of 60 feet.
The foliage is white at first, later turning to green.
* photo of unknown source on internet
Cincinnati
Same size as species but with dense branches and long bright green needles. The very pendulous lower branches create a dripping effect.
Clanbrissillima
Dense and rounded to flat topped; very slow growing, reaching up to 17 x 17 feet, rarely more. Some records include: 10 years - 4 x 5 feet; 50 years - 16 x 24 x 1.5 feet; largest on record - 44 feet with 20 inch trunk diameter.
The foliage is deep green.
Winter buds are brown and prominent.
* photo taken @ Tyler Arboretum near Philly, PA on Aug 2004
Cranstonii ( Cranston Norway Spruce )
A fast growing very attractive Norway Spruce cultivar with long weeping streamer branchlets. The very pendulous lower branches create a dripping effect on this beautiful cultivar of the Norway Spruce. Reaches up to 18 feet in 10 years, with an eventual maximum size of 90 x 40 feet. It is similar to Virgata.
Cupressina
Dense, upright and columnar; almost looks like a Sawara Cypress from a distance. Some records include: 10 years - 18 feet; 20 years - 27 x 10 feet; 44 years - 52 x 30 x 2.5 feet; tallest on record - 65 feet.
Echiniformis
Slow growing miniature with prickly long foliage.
Some records include: 44 years - 5 x 12 feet.
Elegans ( Knights Dwarf Spruce )
Dense and globular to 13 x 18 feet with shorter needles.
Elegantissima
Fast growing, upright and narrow, reaching up to 25 feet in 10 years, eventually very tall.
The foliage is bright yellow at first during spring, later turning to green.
Frohberg
Similar to Pendula but slower growing and compact, reaching up to 8 x 3 feet in 10 years if staked.
This weeper with twisted stems originated as a seedling of Inversa.
The foliage is bright green turning to rich deep green.
Glauca Pendula
Also called Blue Wave. Fast growing and similar to Pendula except with longer needles that are blue.
Gregoryana
Very dense, round and dwarf, reaching 8 x 20 inches in 10 years and a maximum eventual size of 3 x 6.6 feet. Foliage is sea green.
Humilis
slow growing, dense, pyramdial dwarf form to 1.5 x 3.5 feet in 10 years. Foliage is short and deep green.
Inversa
Naturally prostrate and looking great cascading over rock but can be trained as an upright weeping bush. If the leader is staked, it may reach up to 12 x 4 feet in 10 years, only spreading with age. Some records include: largest on record - 45 x 22 feet.
The foliage is mid-green.
Little Gem
Dwarf, dense, flat topped and very slow growing ( 2 inches per year ); to 24 x 32 inches in 10 years with maximum eventual size of 4 x 6 feet.
The foliage is deep green.
* photo taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario
Maxwellii ( Maxwell Norway Spruce )
A dwarf groundcover variety, rarely reaches 7 feet tall and 16 feet wide, even in 45 years; it only reaches 6 x 10 feet in size.
The branches are thick and the foliage is green. Excellent choice for rock gardens.
Monstrosa
Some records include: 10 years - 20 feet.
Mucronata
to 14 x 16 feet or rarely more. Some records include: 50 years - 22 x 19 feet with a trunk diameter of 11 inches.
Nidiformis ( Bird Nest Norway Spruce )
Dense, dark green & spreading, the Birds Nest Spruce is a dwarf spruce that grows moderately to 3.3 x 6 feet in 10 years, and to 17 x 17 feet with great age ( usually much less ). New growth in spring is bright green.
Ohlendorffii
Globular and dwarf with light green summer foliage. Reaches up to 4 x 2 feet in 10 years with a maximum mature size of 17 x 17 feet.
Pachyphylla
Irregularly branched and dwarf.
Pendula ( Weeping Norway Spruce )
Grows to 1.5 feet per year to 20 x 25 feet ( sometimes trees with a strong central leader will grow up to 60 feet with pendulous side branches ).
Some records include: 10 years - 10 ( rarely over 8 ) feet; largest in Pennsylvania - 32 x 33 x 1.3 feet @ Delaware Community College in Media near Philly.
Foliage is dark green.
* photo taken @ Longwood Gardens near Philly, PA on March 1994
* photo taken in Howard County, MD
* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos of unknown internet source
Procumbens ( Procumbens Norway Spruce )
Spreading and flat topped with horizontal branches it grows to 20 inches x 10 feet in 10 years, to an eventually size of 3.5 x 20 feet with lush green foliage the entire year. A great groundcover for full sun from zone 2 to 7 that is not commonly used.
Pumila ( Pumila Norway Spruce )
a dwarf Norway Spruce reaching 11.5 x 12 feet as most, but usually to 2 x 6 feet at maturity. Dense and spreading to 2 x 5 feet in 10 years.
Pumila Nigra
Similar to Pumila but reaching up to 10 x 13 feet at maturity. Very deep green foliage.
Pygmaea
dense, irregular, very slow growing, globular and dwarf; it reaches only 1 x 1 foot in 10 years and with extreme age, a maximum size of 5 x 4 feet.
Pyramidalis Gracilis
Dwarf with bright green foliage
Pyramidata
Narrowly conical, reaching up to 30 x 4 feet in 20 years; largest on record - 133 feet. The foliage is mid-green.
Reflexa
Trainable as a small weeping tree to 10 feet; it is typically a naturally prostrate groundcover forming a low dome with upturned branch tips that can reach 5 x 20 feet in 10 years.
Repens
Low compact mounding form to 5 x 16 feet with crowded foliage.
Rotenhausii
A very vigorous, large, weeping tree, eventually exceeding 45 feet.
It has a strongly upright leader and weeping side branches.
Some records include: fastest growth rate - 3 feet; 10 years - 14 x 4 feet ( average ). The foliage is mid-green.
Rubrospicata
Upright in habit, reaching up to 20 feet in 10 years.
The foliage is scarlet-red at first, later turning to mid-green.
The needles are short, resembling that of Picea orientalis more than P. abies.
Tabuliformis
Horizontally prostrate branches.
Virgata
A very fast growing, large, weeping spruce, reaching up to 12 x 6 feet in 10 years, eventually 60 x 40 feet or more.
The very long stems bear mid-green needles.
Waartburg
A large weeping form, that is staked for height when young. It can reach up to 12 x 4 feet in 10 years, eventually larger.
The needles are long and mid-green.
The thick stems are orange.
Picea alcoquiana ( Alcocks Spruce )
Also called Picea bicolor. It forms a tall, broadly pyramdal, horizontally branched conifer tree to 80 feet or more and is native to Japan where it is endangered. Some records include: 20 years - 27 feet; 30 years - 50 feet; largest on record - 150 x 35 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet.
The needles are stiff, deep green and somewhat resemble Picea abies.
The cones are cylindrical, purple-pink when young, later turning to brown.
The bark is gray.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 tolerating -50 F but also thrives in more moderate climates such as England. Prefers moist soil and does not like pollution.
Howell Dwarf
Dwarf and vase-shaped with a flat top, reaching up to 6 x 5 ( rarely over 3 x 4.5 ) feet in 10 years, eventually to as much as 11 feet in height.
The needles are mid-green above and bright blue beneath.
Picea asperata ( Dragon Spruce )
An impressive tall pyramidal conifer reaching up to 90 feet or more, that is basically the western Chinese equivalent of Picea abies. It has a moderate growth rate and some records include: 40 years - 70 feet; largest on record - 150 x 44 feet with a trunk diameter of 5 feet; largest in Pennsylvania - 65 x 45 feet at Morris Arboretum, Philly.
The needles are arranged all around the shoots and last up to 7 years making the trees canopy very dense. The needles are up to an inch in length and are stiff and prickly but not sharp like Colorado Blue Spruce. The needles are also more upright than the similar Picea pungens.
The pendulous cones are gray ripening to reddish-brown.
The shoots are yellowish and shiny and the grayish-red bark peels in irregular, thin flakes.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 and even grows well in the harsh climate of Calgary, Alberta as.
It also grows well in moderate climates such as the British Isles.
China Blue
Very blue foliage.
Picea brachytyla ( Sargent Spruce )
A large tree native to the Himalayas that can reach well over 100 feet and is shaped like the Cedrus deodara. It is conical when young eventually becoming rounded and branching horizontally, many of the branches turning upward towards the tips.
The Sargent Spruce is very fast growing and some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 4 feet; 20 years - 50 feet; 50 years - 82 feet; largest on record - 210 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet.
The new foliage flushes late in the spring and the needles are flat, crowded and up to an inch in length. They are glossy yellowish-green above and have 2 blue-white bands below.
The cylindrical cones, up to 3 inches in length, are pendulous and are purplish later ripening to dull brown in color.
The bark is smooth and gray-brown.
Hardy zones 5 to 8. Endangered in the wild. Thrives in the British Isles and has been known to exceed 100 feet in 75 years there.
Picea breweriana ( Brewer Spruce )
A very rare, moderate growing, large tree native to the Siskiyou Mountains in northern California and Oregon. It can grow very tall to over 100 feet and is broadly conical ( much more narrow in the forest ) with horizontal branches in which very long streamer branchlets up to 12 feet in length hang down from.
Some records include: 20 years - 27 x 17 feet; largest on record - 200 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 10 feet.
The flattened, deep blue green needles, up to 1.5 inches in length are not sharp.
The cones are reddish brown and up to 4 inches in length.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( reported in 4 ) and tolerates down to - 20 F but prefers a maritime climate with cool, moist summers. It grows especially well in the British Isles.
* photo taken by A.K. Grebbin @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Picea chihuahana ( Chihuahua Spruce )
A tall, broad conical, rare conifer native to Mexico that is very similar to Picea pungens Blue Spruce. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 2 feet; largest on record - 120 x 35 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet.
The blue-green needles are up to an inch in length, very sharp, curved and 4 sided.
The cylindrical cones are yellow-brown.
The bark is silver gray.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 ( possibly even hardier...reported to survive in southern Michigan ) and VERY HEAT TOLERANT!
Picea crassifolia ( Tainghai Spruce )
A rare spruce, reaching a maximum height of 82 feet, that is native to China.
Hardy zones 5 to 8.
Picea engelmannii ( Engelmann Spruce )
A tall, dense, columnar or pyramidal conifer native to the Rocky Mountains of North America from central British Columbia & Alberta; south to northern California, Arizona and New Mexico. it is moderate growing and can reach over 100 feet. Some records include: 20 years - 40 x 10 feet; largest on record - 240 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 8 feet. The Engelmann Spruce can live up to 850 years.
The Engelmann Spruce is known to have already exceeded 100 feet in Scotland where it is not native.
The gray-blue needles up to 0.7 inches are sharp pointed and 4 angled.
The cylindrical cones up to 2.3 inches are pendulous and are green and flushed with purple.
Hardy zones 1 to 8 and tolerates poor soils. Slow to establish after being transplanted.
* photos taken on Aug 1998 in Banff National Park, Alberta
* photo taken by Ray M. Filloon @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Bushs Lace
A small tree with an upright main leader and strongly weeping side branches.
Some records include: 10 years - 10 x 3 feet. It may need to be staked when young to encourage height.
The long needles are silvery-blue.
Hardy zones 3 to 8. Tolerates partial shade.
Fendleri
pendulous branches and needles up to 1.3 inches in length.
Glauca
light blue needles
Picea glauca ( White Spruce )
A tall, fast growing, pyramidal conifer with drooping branchlets that is native to North America from Alaska to Labrador; south to Wyoming, Minnesota to Michigan to Pennsylvania. Some records include: 5 years - 18 x 11.5 feet ( Calgary - not from seed ); 10 years - 25 x 15 feet; 20 years - 50 feet; largest on record - 230 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet.
The aromatic, needles, up to 0.5 inches are 4 angled, and blue green.
The cones are small ( up to 1.7 inches ) and narrow.
The gray-brown bark is scaly.
Its lumber is used commercially in the production of paper. This is among the most important of all timber trees in Canada.
It requires well drained soil to thrive and is hardy from zones 1 to 6 tolerating as low as -65 F. The White Spruce prefers acidic soil and hates weed competition.
Though generally a tree of continental climates; the White Spruce is known to reach as high as 90 feet in the British Isles.
* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD
* photo taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario
* photos taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario
* photo taken on August 4 2010 in Stratford, Ontario
* photo of unknown internet source
* photos taken on July 31 2011 in Hyde Park, NY
* photos taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario
* photo taken by R.K. LeBarron @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Alberta Blue
Silvery blue foliage
Alberta Globe
Dwarf and rounded with short needles that are bright, fresh green in early summer, later turning to deep green. It can reach 20 x 24 inches in 10 years and the largest on record is 12 x 4 feet.
Conica ( Dwarf Alberta Spruce )
A dense and neatly conical shrub that sometimes becomes a small tree after many years that can be limbed up and thinned. Some records include: 10 years - 6.6 x 3 feet; 25 years - 10 feet; 30 years - 12 feet; largest on record is 30 x 10 feet with a trunk diameter of 15 inches ( 100 years ). Foliage in early summer is fresh bright green later aging to blue-green. The needles are shorter than that of the species, only up to 0.5 inches.
Bayer Systemic Applications on these may be necessary especially where summers are hot; spider mites can wipe out the foliage on a Dwarf Alberta in a week making for a brown, dried up Alberta. If you do not want to use chemicals then you can try to use a strong water stream to dislodge spider mites though effectiveness cant be guaranteed.
* photo taken on April 5 2010 near Wilkes-Barre, PA
* photo taken on Aug 1 2011 in Luzerne Co, PA
Densata ( Black Hills Spruce )
Pyramidal in habit, reaching up to 17 feet in 20 years. It can eventually reach a maximum size of 96 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet and lives up to 350 years.
The foliage is blue-green.
Very tolerant of alkaline soil. Deer resistant.
Echiniformis
Dwarf, compact and dense, reaching up to 1.5 x 1.5 feet in 10 years. The largest on record is 10 x 6 feet.
The gray-green foliage completely hides the stems.
Pendula
Narrow in habit, with a very upright main leader and strongly weeping side branches. Some records include: growth rate - 2 feet; 10 years - 20 x 6 feet. Young plants may need to be staked until they decide to grow vertically.
The foliage is gray-green.
Rainbows End
Similar to Conica but even smaller reaching only 4 feet in 10 years with a maximum eventual size of 8 x 3 feet.
The spring growth is attractive yellow.
Picea glehnii ( Sakhalin Spruce )
A tall, fast growing conifer native to eastern Asia and Japan that can easily exceed 100 feet. Some records include: largest on record - 170 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 5 feet.
The needles are medium green and up to 0.6 inches in length.
The bark is dark brown.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 and an excellent choice for continental climates though has also exceeded 70 feet in maritime England. It is also very alkaline as well as flood tolerant.
Picea jezoensis ( Yezo Spruce )
A tall, dense, spire like conifer that is a widespread native of northeast Asia and Japan. The branches are layered elegantly. Reaching over 80 feet, some records include: 20 years - 40 x 13 feet; largest on record - 230 x 45 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet. The trunk is sturdy and the branches sweep the ground and curve up at the tips.
The needles, up to 0.7 inches in length, are deep green above, blue-white beneath and are crowded on the top sides of the shoots. This spruce flushes bright green new growth early which is thus prone to damage from late frosts.
The cones are cylindrical and small, crimson maturing to rich brown in color.
The gray to brown bark is fissured and sheds in plates.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 and prefers continental climates making it an excellent choice for the northern Great Plains. It also grows well in the maritime climate of the British Isles and is known to exceed 100 feet there.
Picea koraiensis ( Korean Spruce )
A medium-size tree, reaching a maximum size of 80 feet, that is native from Russia into northern Korea. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 1.5 feet.
The branches curve upwards towards the tips.
The sharp needles are blue-green.
Picea koyamai
A tall, attractive, fast growing conifer reaching up to 100 feet or more, that is native to cool to temperate climates in eastern Asia where it forms pure stand forests though is considered threatened due to environmental destruction.
Some growth records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 3 feet; 20 years - 26 feet; 34 years - 50 feet; largest on record - 270 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 3.5 feet.
The densely packed needles are blue-green and up to an inch in length.
The cones are up to 3 inches in length and are green later maturing to brown.
The branches are distinctly orange-red and the bark is flaking and gray.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 this tree is an excellent choice for the northern Great Plains including southern Alberta ( some irrigation recommended there ).
It also grows well in more maritime climates such as the British Isles and has already exceeded 80 feet there.
Picea likiangensis ( Lijiang Spruce )
A tall, vigorous, broadly-conical conifer with a straight sturdy trunk reaching up to 100 feet or rarely more, that is native to Sichuan Province in China. Some records include: 20 years - 47 x 27 feet; largest on record - 170 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 8 feet. The branches are widely spaced and upturning.
The needles, up to 0.5 inches in length, are blue-green and sharp. This spruce flushes new growth early which is thus prone to damage from late frosts.
The flowers are profuse and intense red. The young cones are violet-purple.
The shoots are bristly and the bark is thick and deeply furrowed.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in both continental and maritime climates ( already exceeded 70 feet in Ireland ).
Balfouriana
Foliage is intensely blue.
Picea mariana ( Black Spruce )
A slow growing, narrow pyramidal conifer native to the boreal forests of Canada reaching from the Arctic Circle ( northern Alaska to Labrador ) south to the northern edge of the Candian Prairies to Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Often rarely reaching its full potential due to growing on sites where few other trees will even survive, let alone grow; when given ideal conditions it can exceeed 70 feet. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 2 feet; 20 years - 20 x 10 feet; largest on record - 150 x 21 feet with a trunk diameter of 4 feet. The Black Spruce can live up to 343 years and is used commercially for paper production.
The Black Spruce thrives in northern Europe and has reaches as large as 90 feet with a 32 inch trunk diameter in England.
The needles are deep blue-green, blunted instead of sharp and up to 0.6 inches in length
The purple brown cones are small yet abundant and long persistant unlike most other Spruces.
The shoots are densely hairy and the bark is red-brown.
Hardy zones 1 to 5 ( tolerates as low as -80 F ) and grows best in open sunny sites on moist soil. Flood tolerant. Prefers soil PH from 4.5 to 6.5. It does not grow well in regions with hot humid summers.
* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
* photo taken by W.D. Brush @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Aureovariegata
Slow growing and pyramidal in habit. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 1.5 feet; 10 years - 10 x 4 feet.
The foliage is glowing golden-yellow at first, later turning to blue-green.
Doumetii
Slower growing and dome shaped, only reaching a maximum of 30 feet with foliage broader than average for Picea mariana. Some records include: 10 years - 12 feet/
Ericoides
Rounded and dwarf with soft, blue-green, heath-like foliage. It can reach up to 4 x 4 feet in 10 years. The largest on record is 17 x 15 feet.
Nana
A very slow growing, dwarf, rounded shrub with blue green foliage. Some records include: 10 years - 1 x 3 feet; largest on record is 4 x 6 feet.
Picea martinezii
A tall, dense, vigorous, extremely attractive conifer exceeding 80 feet that is native to the mountains of Mexico where extremely endangered. The largest on record is 120 feet in height with a trunk diameter of 3.5 feet. The foliage is bright green.
Hardt north to zone 8 and VERY HEAT TOLERANT! It surprisingly thrives in England.
Picea maximowiczii ( Maxims Spruce )
Also called Japanese Bush Spruce, is a tall, dense crowned conifer to 70 feet that is native to Japan where endangered.
Some records include: 20 years - 50 feet; largest on record - 166 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 6 feet; largest in Pennsylvania - 70 x 50 feet at Morris Arboretum, Philly; more recently a tree of 90 x 48 feet has been reported at Westtown School in Westtown near Philly. Long-lived, this tree is known to survive as long as 500 years.
The needles are shiny, deep green up to 0.8 inches in length.
The bark is orangish. Hardy north to zone 4
Picea mexicana ( Mexican Spruce )
Very closely related and similar to the Engelmann Spruce but native to the mountains of Nueva Leon in Mexico ( at elevations around 9000 feet ). It is among the worlds rarest trees and is highly endangered with extinction.
This attractive conical Spruce bear powdery-blue to blue-green needles up to 2 inches in length and has whitish bark.
Some records include: 10 years - 12 x 6 feet; 20 years - 34 feet with a trunk diameter of 9 inches; largest on record - 100 ( rarely over 70 ) feet.
Hardy zones 7 to 9, it is very adaptable outside its native range, even thriving as far away as England.
Picea meyeri ( Blue Meyer Spruce )
A very fast growing, widely pyramidal conifer, up to 75 feet, that is similar in appearance to Picea asperata. It is native to high mountains up to 9000 feet in China and is therefore a very tough hardy tree. On ideal sites, some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 3 feet; largest on record - 100 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet.
The needles are light blue and up to 1.3 inches in length.
The young stems are orangish-brown.
Hardy zones 2 to 7 and very drought and heavy clay tolerant. It can also tolerate anything between -50 F and 100 F and is an excellent Blue Spruce substitute that is highly recommended for the upper Midwest. Rarely bothered by pests or disease.
Picea morrisonicola ( Taiwan Spruce )
A tall sturdy trunked conifer that is native to mountains up to 10 000 feet in Taiwan where it is endangered. Some records include: 20 years - 26 feet; largest on record - 170 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 6.5 feet. This spruce is very similar to Picea glehnii.
The deep green needles up to 0.7 inches in length are pointed and 4 sided.
The shoots are smooth and the bark is reddish brown later becoming gray and shedding in flakes.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( reports of 6 on sheltered sites ); this Spruce is HEAT TOLERANT in the southeast U.S. where few other spruces will grow. Extremely rare in the U.S. but has great potential.
Picea obovata ( Siberian Spruce )
Native from Finland to Kamchatka; this Conifer which somewhat resembles Picea abies is one of the worlds most cold hardy trees and forms much of the forests in Scandinavia, northern Russia and Siberia. It can grow very large to over 100 feet and some records include: 20 years - 60 feet; largest on record - 200 x 45 feet with a trunk diameter of 8 feet; largest in New York State - 103 feet at Bailey Arboretum. The largest known tree in Pennsylvania grows at Haverford College.
The deep green needles are up to an inch in length, blunt rather than spine tipped, deep green above and with whitish lines below.
The pendulous, cylindrical cones are shiny brown and up to 8 inches in length.
The shoots are covered in fine, red-brown hairs when young.
Hardy zones 1 to 7, it grows poorly in maritime climates.
Glauca
Powdery blue foliage.
Picea omorika ( Serbian Spruce )
A tall, elegant, dense, fast growing conifer native to Bosnia and Serbia that grows narrow pyramidal with weeping side branchlets and can reach over 70 feet. Some records include: 20 years - 57 x 17 feet; largest on record - 170 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 4 feet. It is one of the most beautiful of all Spruces.
Wider growing forms may be eventually placed on the market.
Before the last Ice Age; the Serbian Spruce was very widespread in Europe.
The needles are glossy dark green above, bluish white below and up to an inch in length. They are flattened and soft tipped.
New growth flushes late in the spring.
The narrow, oval, hanging cones are purple brown and up to 2.5 inches in length.
The shoots are hairy and pale brown. The purple brown bark cracks into square plates.
Hardy zones 3 to 8; it is tolerant of air pollution and most soil. Very heat and alkaline tolerant; it is an excellent choice for the Great Plains while also considered the best spruce in much less harsh London, England.
* photo taken in Columbia, MD on Feb 2010
* photo taken in Howard County, MD
* photo taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario
* photo taken on August 5 2010 @ Woodlands Arboretum, Clinton, Ontario
* photo taken on Aug 17 2012 in Columbia, MD
Nana
Rounded to conical with an irregular outline; reaching up to 4 x 4 feet in 10 years. The largest on record is 33 x 13 feet and the fastest recorded growth rate is 9 inches.
the foliage is yellow-green above and glaucous-blue below.
* photos taken on Dec 8 2011 in Columbia, MD
Pendula
An extremely graceful, strikingly handsome, narrow-conical tree with long weeping branchlets. Otherwise similar to regular Picea omorika. Can reach 15 x 4 feet in 10 years and 66 feet in 35 years, eventually more.
Berliners Weeping is very similar.
Picea orientalis ( Oriental Spruce )
A tall, upright, dense, pyramidal tree reaching up to 100 feet with pendulous branches retained to ground level. The "Oriental Spruce" is not one of the Spruces native to the real Orient; this one is actually native to the Caucasus and Turkey
Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 4 feet; 20 years - 47 x 20 feet; 25 years - 60 x 30 feet; 60 years - 150 feet; largest on record - 200 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 13 feet; largest in Pennsylvania - 100 feet @ Tyler Arboretum near Philly.
Many are over 80 feet at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and the famous tree park Spring Grove Cemetary in Cincinnati. Oriental Spruce is known to live as long as 400 years.
The needles are short, up to 0.5 inches in length and deep glossy green.
The are rigid but are blunt tipped rather than sharp. The needles pointed forward and densely cover the pale brown shoots all around.
Spring flower catkins are brick red.
The flowers are followed by purplish pendulous cones, up to 4 inches in length that ripen to brown.
The pinkish brown bark flakes in small plates.
Hardy zones 3 to 8. A better choice than the Norway Spruce in the South as well as drier climates.
The Oriental Spruce is generally disease free and among the best Spruces for hot humid summers.
* photo taken @ Tyler Arboretum near Philly on August 2004
* photos taken on March 17 2010 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD
* photo taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA
* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA
Aurea
bright yellow new growth that turns to green in summer.
Reaches up to 20 x 10 feet in 10 years. Largest on record - 82 x 17 feet.
Aureospicata
Conical in habit, reaching up to 70 x 30 feet with upward curving branches.
Some records include: 10 years - 8 x 5 feet.
The foliage is creamy-yellow at first, turning to deep green.
Connecticut Turnpike
A dwarf, dense, broadly-pyramidal shrub, with deep green foliage.
Some records include: 10 years - 4 x 4 feet.
Gracilis
Slow growing, dense and rounded, later becoming pyramidal to 4 x 3 feet in 10 years, eventually reaching up to 15 x 8 feet. The largest on record is 37 x 17 feet with a trunk diameter of 13 inches. The foliage is deep green.
Skylands
Dense and narrow-conical with golden-yellow foliage. Reaches a maximum of 33 x 13 feet in 20 years and eventually up to 70 x 20 feet.
Picea polita ( Tigertail Spruce )
Also called Picea torana. A very large, pyramidal tree with older trees having long streamers ( "tigertails" ) that hang down from the horizontal side branches. Some records include: 20 years - 40 feet; largest on record - 133 feet with a trunk diameter of 10 feet; largest in New Jersey - 80 x 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet.
The foliage is deep green.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.
Picea pungens ( Colorado Blue Spruce )
An eventually large pyramidal tree with tiered horizontal branching; that is native to the central U.S. from Idaho to Wyoming; south to Utah & New Mexico. Some records include; fastest recorded growth rate - 3 feet; 10 years - 25 feet; 20 years - 43 x 13 feet; largest on record is 200 x 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 6 feet; largest in North Dakota - 85 x 30 feet; largest in Maryland - 70 feet in Annapolis. The Blue Spruce can live up to 800 years.
The foliage is stiff, needle like, sharp, blue-green to deep green and up to 1.5 inches in length. The needles are densely arranged all around the shoots and last up to 4 years.
The hanging, cylindrical cones are light brown and up to 5 inches in length with tooth tipped cone scales.
The shoots are pale brown and the bark is red-brown and scaly.
The most drought tolerant of the Spruces. Hardy zones 2 to 8 ( thrives even in Alberta ) and tolerant of salt, heat and pollution. It often grows poorly in the eastern U.S. south of zone 6 ( in places other than New England & Long Island ) due to its dislike of high nighttime temperatures. Prefers soil PH from 5.5 to 7.8
Cultivars are propagated by grafting or hardwood cuttings taken during winter.
* photo taken by K.D. Swan @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
* photos taken in Columbia, MD on Feb 2010
* photos taken on April 13 2010 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on May 5 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 10 2010 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario
* photo taken on August 4 2010 in Stratford, Ontario
* photo of unknown internet source
* photo taken on Aug 4 2012 in Blyth, Ontario
* photo taken on Jan 14 2012 in Ellicott City, MD
Argentea ( Silver Colorado Spruce )
Silvery white foliage; otherwise identical to species.
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E., et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook
Baby Blue
Smaller in size, forming a pyramid of bright blue foliage.
Some records include: 10 years - 10 x 10 feet.
Bakeri
Slow growing and conical in habit, reaching up to 15 feet in 10 years, eventually much more. The foliage is powdery-blue.
Fat Albert
Densely broad-conical in habit with bright blue foliage. Moderate growth rate, reaching an average size of 40 x 25 feet at maturity.
Some records include; fastest recorded growth rate - 3 feet; 10 years - 15 feet; largest on record - 65 x 25 feet.
Glauca Compacta
Rounded and dense shrub, reaching a maximum size of 7 x 8 feet, with bright blue foliage.
Globosa
Dense, dwarf and rounded, reaching up to 32 x 40 inches in 10 years. The largest on record is 33 x 17 feet.
The foliage is silvery blue.
* photos taken in Howard County, MD
* photo taken on Aug 15 2011 in Columbia, MD
* 3 hour shrub to bonsai pruning project turns out extremely perfect
* photo taken on Apr 13 2012
* photo taken on May 7 2012 in Columbia, MD
Hoopsii
Slower growing with a dense conical habit. Some records include - 10 years 10 feet; 42 years - 62 x 27 feet.
The foliage is silvery blue.
Iseli Fastigiata
Narrow and columnar in habit, reaching up to 10 x 3.5 feet in 10 years, with an eventual maximum size of 50 x 10 feet. The foliage is bright powdery-blue.
* photo of unknown source on internet
Koster
Intense bright silvery-blue foliage. Some records include: 10 years - 10 feet; largest on record - 60 x 16 feet.
Mission Blue
Rapid growing, very full and wide. Foliage is blue-white.
Hardy north to zone 2.
Moerheim
Conical and dense with longer, silvery blue-white foliage.
Montgomery
A semi-dwarf, dense, fat pyramidal Blue Spruce, reaching up to 8 x 8 feet in size. Slow growing, it typically grows no more than 6 inches in a year.
Some records include: 10 years - 4 x 3 feet; 20 years - 6 x 6 feet.
The foliage is intensely blue.
* photos of unknown internet source
Pendula
Also called Glauca Pendula.
Conical in shape with twisted, weeping branchlets. Young trees may need to be staked but they will eventually decide to send up a strong upright leader on their own.
Some records include: 10 years - 10 x 4 feet; largest on record - 40 x 5 feet.
The foliage is powdery-blue.
* photo taken during July 2011 in Columbia, MD
Prostrata
Also called Glauca Prostrate. A low growing, prostrate cultivar to 2 x 10 feet in 10 years. The largest on record is 5 x 17 feet, very old plants may develop a domed center. The fastest possible growth rate is 16 inches on leading shoots. It can be staked to make a weeping tree.
The foliage is bright powdery blue.
The Blues
Very weeping in habit, requiring staking for height ( up to 6 x 4 feet in 10 years ).
It looks similar to Weeping Norway Spruce except that its needles are longer and bright powdery-blue. A spectacular specimen plant.
Thompson
Intense, bright silvery blue foliage
Viridis
Very dark green foliage.
Walnut Glen
Dwarf and conical in habit, reaching up to 3 x 2 feet in 10 years, with an eventual maximum height of 10 feet. The foliage is powdery-blue.
Picea purpurea ( Purple Coned Spruce )
A dense, conical, large tree considered by many to be a form of Picea likiangensis. It is native to northwestern China.
Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 3.5 feet; 20 years - 50 feet; largest on record - 170 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 3.5 feet.
Foliage is similar to P.likiangensis but is more densely crowded and on densely hairy shoots. The needles, up to 0.5 inches in length, are glossy mid-green above; grayish-white beneath.
The cones are small and violet-purple when young.
Bark is orange brown.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( unconfirmed reports of 3 & 4 ).
Picea rubens ( Red Spruce )
A tall pyramidal tree native to high altitudes in eastern North America from Algonquin Park, Ontario to Nova Scotia; south to Pennsylvania ( North Carolina in high mountains ).
Some records include: 20 years - 50 feet; largest on record - 162 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 5 feet. Lives up to 400 years.
The twigs are not pendulous and the branches spread horizontally.
Foliage is crowded, incurved and twisted.
Cones are cylindrical, short and purple-green turning to glossy brown as they mature.
The bark is red-brown and scaly. Branches are slender.
Hardy zones 2 to 5. It thrives in Englands cool summers and has already reached over 60 feet there. Trees in the high Appalations have been struggling over the past few decades, likely due to acid rain.
* photo taken by C.A. Abell @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
* photo taken by W.D. Brush @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Picea schrenkiana ( Schrenks Spruce )
A tall, dense slender tree with drooping branchlets that is native to Turkestan in central Asia where it is rare. Some records include: 20 years - 33 feet; largest on record - 230 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 7 feet.
The gray-green needles are up to 1.3 inches in length.
The bark is gray.
Hardy zones 2 to 7.
Picea sitchensis ( Sitka Spruce )
A very large tree to 180 + feet that native to the Pacific Coast of North America from Aleutian Islands in Alaska to northern California. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 5 feet; 20 years - 66 feet; 30 years - 100 feet; 42 years - 135 feet; 50 years - 3 foot trunk diameter; 100 years - 200 feet; 130 years - 220 feet with a 9 foot trunk diameter; largest on record - 400 x 71 feet with a trunk diameter of 26 feet ( no trees that large remain though over 300 feet is entirely possible ). One tree was even reported to be 31 feet in diameter at 2 feet of the ground. Relatively recent records include 317 x x 18.5 feet. After the Redwoods; the Sitka Spruce holds its own well as one of the worlds largest trees; it can also live up to 800 years. Trees over 100 feet in height still frequently add up to 3.5 feet of new growth in a season.
Unlike most spruces; the Sitka Spruce often produced a second flush of new growth during the summer.
Has been grown in the eastern U.S. Some records in Wooster, Ohio include: fastest growth rate - 3 feet; 6 years - 13 feet.
The narrow, stiff, sharply pointed needles up to 1.5 inches in length are blue-green above and silvery below.
The hanging, cylindrical cones are pale brown and up to 4 inches in length.
The shoots are pale brown and the bark is red-brown, flaking in large scales.
Widely planted as a timber tree. The timber is unusual in that is it very strong and light. The wood is used in construction and boatbuilding. The Sitka Spruce is also valuable for paper production.
The Sitka Spruce is also commonly commercially grown in the west for Christmas trees.
New growth starts very early in spring and is prone to late frost damage. Prefers sandy soils and needs high summer rainfall and cool humid summers. The Sitka thrives in western Europe, especially in England and Ireland where it is grown commercially for its timber. It transplants easily when young unlike many other spruces. The Sitka is hardy from zones 4 to 8 and hardier clones can tolerate as low as -33 F.
* photo of unknown internet source
* excellent videos found on Youtube
Papoose
A miniature form that is globular to broadly-conical, reaching a maximum size of 6 x 6 feet. Some records include: 10 years - 4 x 3 feet.
The foliage is blue-gren.
Picea smithiana ( Morinda Spruce )
An extremely beautiful, tall, pyramidal conifer with foliage cascading from horizontal branches, that is native to Afghanistan, Nepal, northern India, and Tibet. It is always a very ornamental tree. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 3 feet; 20 years - 60 x 20 feet; largest on record - 240 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 7.6 feet.
The finely-pointed needles, up to 2 inches in length, completely surround the branches and are deep green.
The pendulous cones at the branch tips are shiny, purplish brown and up to 8 x 2 inches, the largest of any Spruce.
The shoots are glossy pale brown and the purple-gray bark flakes in scales.
Hardy zones 5 to 8. Prefers cool summers and thrives in England but also does well in much of the eastern U.S. tolerating milder climates where similar looking Brewers Spruce wont grow. It does however start into growth early and may be damaged by late spring frosts where they do occur. Does not like to be transplant so purchase small trees only. Very easy to grow, it is limestone tolerant and is resistant to Spruce Aphid and Spruce Mite which affect many other Spruce.
The large cones produce abundant seed which is easy to germinate.
* photo of unknown source on internet
Picea spinulosa ( Sikkim Spruce )
A tall conifer with pendulous branches that resembles Picea smithiana.
Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 3.5 feet; 20 years - 50 feet; largest on record - 240 x 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 10 feet.
The sharp tipped needles up to 1.5 inches in length are overlapping and crowded.
They are deep green above and have 2 whitish bands below.
The cylindrical cones are purplish green later ripening to shiny brown.
The bark is pale gray.
Hardy zones 4 to 8. It thrives in Englands cool summers and grows very large there.
Picea wilsonii ( Wilsons Spruce )
The Wilsons Spruce is a conical, very large spruce that is native to China.
Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet; 10 years - 11 x 5 feet ( average ); largest on record - 180 x 35 feet with a trunk diameter of 4.5 feet.
It has uniform branches spread from base to tree top and is narrow.
The densely packed needles, up to 1 inch in length, are sharp pointed and glossy deep green.
The bark is red brown and furrowed.
It is hardy from zones 3 to 8 and grows best in moist well drained soil in full sun.
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