White Spruce Picea glauca

Zone 2-6

Height to 50-70' maximum 190' Diameter 12-24" Spread 20-40'

Habitat. White spruce are found on a variety of sites from swampy bog soils to rocky hillsides, loves the cold winters. On the higher exposed sites in its northern range it forms low, dense mats due to the cold dry winter winds. I have seen white spruce as far south as northern Georgia growing on Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain in Georgia.

Leaves. The needles of the white spruce are dark blue-green, arranged in a spiral, more crowded on the upper side, 1/2-3/4" long, 4 sided, kind of stinky in fragrance and persist for 6 to 10 years. White spruce is a broadly pyramidal tree with broadly upwardly sweeping branches near the end with a broad open crown.

Flowers. White spruce flowers are in solitary cone like clusters, forming in May to June, pale red turning yellow, spirally arranged on a central axis.

Fruit. The cones of the white spruce are 1-2" long, cylindrical, falling off the tree soon after shedding the seeds. Seed is about 1/8". The cones hang down unlike most firs which point up. Immature cones are green, mature cones are red-brown.

Winter Buds. Buds are 1/8-1/4", forming at the tip as well as up and down the twig which helps in maintaining the dense form of the tree.

Bark. Mature trunks on white spruce is gray-brown, scaly, thin.

Wood. The wood is light, 25 pounds per cubic foot, soft, weak, non porous straight- grained with wide rings and light yellow colored sapwood used mainly for lumber as it is easy to saw but splits easily when nailed, and also is used for pulp. other uses are for sounding boards in pianos, ladders, ship building and oars.

Pests. The spruce budworm is a major pest. These can be generally treated with an application of Sevin.

Distribution. White spruce is mainly a northern tree. Found from northern Canada to Alaska, south to the southern Canadian provinces, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and north.

Other. Fine Christmas tree though the Fraser and Douglas fir are more in demand as they have a better fragrance and better needle retention. A beautiful tree and may be the the origin of the phrase "spruced up".

Cultivars.

We have white spruce up to 3' tall.

24 - 30" White Spruce transplants
a 40 year old white spruce growing by our creek.

To buy white spruce seedlings by PHONE: We're glad to take your order by phone. For your convenience, we have a toll free number 800 568-9179. Phone orders can be charged to VISA or MasterCard accounts.

To buy white spruce seedling by MAIL: For those who wish to order by mail or prefer to send a check, send orders to: Porcupine Hollow Farm 8593 W. Old State Rd. Central Lake, Mi. 49622

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