This spruce is not planted as much in landscapes as the Colorado or Norway Spruces in the Mid-Atlantic or Midwest, but it is the third most common. It is really a very northern species that grows through most of all Canada and Alaska, plus northern New England, northern New York, and northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Its needles are about 1 inch long and bluish-green and are stiff, but not really hurtful. Its cones are cylindrical and about 1.0 to 1.5 inches long, to 2.5 inches long, with thin, woody, but flexible scales. White Spruce grows about 1.5 feet/year and lives about 250 to 300 years. it is very adaptable to soils ranging from very acid to alkaline, pH 4.5 to 8.0. and sort of draining wet to well-drained. It does well south of its native range down into Zone 7. Recently in 2021 a very professional landscape architect who specializes in more naturalistic landscapes warned me that in southeast Pennsylvania, due to global warming, that some White Spruce have suffered and declined from the warmer temperatures and such humid, wet summers. (It has not been as bad as for the more commonly planted Colorado Spruce where I have seen many mature specimens of over 30 years old die out from the recent summers of warmer temperatures, greater humidity, and water-soaked soils.)

Reply to this comment

A straight, tall tree easily recognized by its needles. Cones always hang down. Beautiful year-round color.
White spruces are very important evergreens. Besides providing nesting sites and shelter, white spruces provide food for many kinds of wildlife. Crossbills, evening Grosbeaks and red-breasted nuthatches prefer the seeds. The foliage is eaten by grouse, rabbits and deer. Red squirrels cut open cones to eat the seeds, and they feast upon young, tender spruce shoots. The bark is enjoyed by both porcupines and black bears, sometimes to the detriment of the trees.

Reply to this comment