White Spruce
The white spruce tree, also known as cat spruce and skunk spruce, is a coniferous tree found across North America.
White Spruce
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Pinophyta |
| Class | Pinopsida |
| Order | Pinales |
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Genus | Picea |
| Scientific Name | Picea glauca |
White Spruce Trees
White Spruce Pictures
Quick Information
| Other Names | Canadian spruce, Black Hills spruce, Western white spruce, Alberta white spruce, Porsild spruce, Single spruce, Black Hills white spruce |
| Identification |
Height: 50-100 ft. when mature Needles (Leaves): Rigid, evergreen, 1/3 to 3/4inches long, the cross section is square, and the tips are pointy but not sharp, green to grey-green, pungent odor when crushed;needles borne on a woody peg Trunk Diameter: 3.3 feet Cones: Cylindrical, pendulous, slender, 1.25-2.75 inches long, 0.63 inches wide, flexible scales, thin, green or reddish, pale brown when mature Seeds: Black, 0.09-0.13 inches in length and with a winglengthof 0.19-0.31 inches, pale brown in color |
| Distribution/Range | Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
United States: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming Also found in the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon |
| Habitat | Floodplains, treeline sites and upland slopes, and other landscapes, at elevations from sea level up to 7,000 feet |
| Varieties |
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| Hardiness Zones | 2-6 |
| Growth Rate | Medium, 12-24 inches per year |
| Lifespan | 250-300 years |
| Growing Conditions |
Soil Requirements: Loamy, acidic, sandy, moist, clay and well-drained soils Light Requirement: Full sun, tolerates shade Rainfall: 7.9 inches to 49.2 inches Winter Conditions: Cold, drawn out winters are preferred Summer Conditions: Short summers with cold temperatures |
| Diseases & Pests | Spruce budworms, yellow-headed spruce sawfly, European spruce sawfly, spruce beetle, and various looper species |
| Breeding/Reproduction System | Monoecious |
| Propagation | By seeds |
| Seedling Development | Seedlings prone to dying from frost, flooding, snowpress, browsing and competition |
| Wildlife Value | Nesting and shelter for many animals and birds, seeds used as food by crossbills, grosbeaks, and nuthatches, foliage eaten by deer, rabbits, and grouse; black bears and porcupines enjoy the bark |
| Cultivars |
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| Uses | Wood used in construction and paper-making, timber is exported to Japan; used as a Christmas tree, cultivars used in Bonsai |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Black Hills Spruce
Dwarf White Spruce
Comparison with Other Spruce Trees
White Spruce vs. Blue Spruce
While the blue spruce is the most preferred spruce for a Christmas tree, the white spruce is only chosen as a last resort.
White Spruce Needles
White Spruce Cones
Black Spruce vs. White Spruce
The wood of the white spruce is valued as timber but the black spruce tree’s wood is not usable as such.
White Spruce Bonsai
White Spruce Bark
Interesting Facts
- Crushed white spruce needles give off a pungent smell, thus justifying the names cat spruce and skunk spruce.
- White spruce naturally hybridizes with the Engelmann spruce, Sitka spruce and black spruce.
- It is the state tree of South Dakota and provincial tree of Manitoba.
Weeping White Spruce
Picea Glauca
References:
- https://plantdatabase.uconn.edu/detail.php?pid=310
- https://www.conifers.org/pi/Picea_glauca.php
- http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/DENDROLOGY/SYLLABUS/factsheet.cfm?ID=103
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picea_glauca
- https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/treebook/whitespruce.htm
- https://www.arborday.org/Trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=927
Published on February 3rd 2017 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Spruce.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.
