Spruce trees and shrubs are evergreen plants belonging to the genus Picea.
Spruces can be used as standalone specimens, privacy screens, windbreakers, or even habitat for local wildlife.
Their adaptability, resilience, and variety make them a popular choice for gardeners and landscapers.
Spruce trees are often associated with myths and superstitions.
One common myth is that spruces attract lightning, which is not true.
Spruce trees do not draw lightning more than any othertree species.
Finally, it is sometimes believed that the smell of spruce needles can ward off evil spirits.
While this belief might have once been popular, there is no scientific fact to back up the claim.
In addition to these myths, some people also associate spruce trees with good luck and prosperity.
This may be due to the fact that they are considered a symbol of new beginnings in many cultures.
Spruce tree identification.
Spruce trees are typically identified by their conical shape, with horizontal branches and a narrow crown.
The needles of spruce trees are four-sided in cross section, with sharp points.
The foliage is usually a darker green than other evergreens.
The bark of spruce trees may also be scaly or furrowed, depending on the species.
In addition to their unique appearance, spruce trees are also known for their fragrant scent.
The aroma of a spruce tree is considered to be distinctive and can often be detected from a distance.
Spruce shrubs.
In addition to trees, spruces also come in the form of shrubs.
Spruce shrubs are compact, low-growing plants that are commonly used for landscaping.
They are often used to create hedges or as accent plants inrock gardens.
Like spruce trees, spruce shrubs have needles that are four-sided and sharp.
Spruce shrubs also have cones that are similar in shape to those of spruce trees.
Types of Spruce Trees and Shrubs: A Closer Look
1.
Alcocks spruce (Picea alcoquiana)
Alcocks spruce is a slow-growing evergreen tree native to Pacific North America.
Its needles are 1-2 cm long and have a blue-green color with a waxy coating on the underside.
Its unique feature is its blue-green needles which have a waxy underside coating that protects them from the elements.
Alcocks spruce is an attractive tree that is ideal for adding year-round beauty to any landscape.
This plant is best grown in moist but well-drained, acidic soil in full sun to partial shade.
This tree has unique features that set it apart from other varieties of spruce trees.
Its lower branches turn up and outwards, creating a nest-like shape that gives the tree its name.
Birds Nest Spruce is very low maintenance and can be left alone once established.
It does not require much pruning or fertilization but may need to be protected from strong winds.
It is also great for wildlife habitat as it provides shelter and food for birds and squirrels.
It prefers moist, acidic soils and can reach heights of up to 25 meters.
One of the most unique features of Black Spruce is its growth habit.
It has a conical shape with long, slightly drooping branches that often hang down from the crown.
This gives it a distinctive look that is quite different from the other conifers found in the same habitat.
The bark of young trees is thin and smooth, while older trees develop thicker, furrowed bark.
The needles of Black Spruce are short and have four sides with sharp points at the tips.
They are dark green on top and blue-green underneath.
It also has a pleasant aroma when burned.
Interestingly enough, this species is also used in the flavoring of certain foods and beverages.
It typically grows in an upright, pyramidal form with strong, horizontal branching.
Its needles are bright green and its bark has a reddish-brown color.
It prefers well-drained, moist, acidic soils and is usually found near streams or on mountain slopes.
The Brewer Spruce grows best in full sun but can tolerate some shade.
The optimum pH range for this tree is between 5.5 and 6.5.
It prefers warm, dry summers but can survive cold winters if the temperatures remain above -30F.
The Brewer Spruce is moderately drought tolerant once established and can survive in high-altitude climates.
Its needles are twisted, providing a unique texture when compared to other spruces.
It has an erect, pyramidal form with opting branches that give it an elegant appearance.
The needles are short and bluish-green in color, while the bark is thin, scaly, and reddish-brown.
This species can grow in a wide range of soils, provided it has adequate drainage.
It prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.
The ideal pH range is 5.5 6.0.
Burmese spruce is an easy-to-grow tree and is fairly pest resistant.
It is a fast grower, with some specimens reaching heights of 60 feet in just 20 years.
Its unique feature is the attractive silver stripes that form on the bark as it matures.
These stripes become more pronounced with age, eventually forming an impressive pattern.
Its branches are dense and its needles are bright green in color and 2-4 inches long.
This species prefers moist, well-drained soils and is tolerant of both acidic and alkaline pH levels.
It thrives in full sun locations, although it will also tolerate some shade.
This tree has excellent winter hardiness and good drought resistance once established.
The bark on mature trees is a rough gray color with orange highlights.
Additionally, the cones are two to four inches long and reddish-brown in color.
As the cones mature, they become purple-gray, making them a unique feature for this of spruce.
It prefers full sun, but will tolerate some shade.
It is also valuable as wildlife habitat, providing shelter and food for a variety of animals.
This tree has a few unique features that make it distinct from other evergreens.
Its foliage is dense and fragrant, with soft blue-green needles that are 4-6 inches long.
The bark is smooth and grayish-brown when young, becoming more scaly and furrowed with age.
It also produces light brown conelike fruits that contain the trees seeds.
It can reach heights of up to 2535 feet in the landscape and 1020 feet in containers.
It typically prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade if the soil remains consistently moist.
The branches are also quite stiff and generally hang downward, giving the tree its pyramid-like shape.
It is also quite drought-tolerant once established.
It prefers soils that are acidic and moist with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.8.
It can tolerate sun or shade, although it will grow best when planted in full sunlight.
Lastly, the Dwarf Alberta Spruce doesnt produce cones until its at least 10 years old.
It typically grows to 4-6 ft tall and 6-8 ft wide over time.
The foliage maintains its blue color even in cold temperatures, adding winter interest to any landscape.
It is also very tolerant of wind and drought conditions once established.
This tree requires minimal pruning for shape maintenance and low-maintenance overall.
It grows slowly, reaching up to 6 feet in height and 2-4 feet in width after 10 years.
This tree does well in USDA hardiness zones 3-7.
It requires full sun and some wind protection for the best growth.
The Dwarf Norway Spruce has attractive blue-green needles that remain on the plant year-round.
This resilient evergreen will make a wonderful addition to your garden!
It is also tolerant of partial shade, wind, and even sea-salt spray.
Its bark is reddish-brown, becoming scaly and furrowed with age.
Engelmann spruce grows relatively slowly, at a rate of 12 feet per year.
Its lifespan can be quite long, with some specimens living up to 750 years in the wild.
The bark is thin and scaly.
Glehns spruce prefers well-drained soil that is cool and moist but not wet or overly dry.
The ideal pH range is 5.57.0.
It prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade, and can be cultivated in USDA Hardiness Zones 46.
Additionally, the needles are known to remain on the tree for more than three years.
This species is also noted for its vigorous growth and year-round beauty.
Its deep green color provides an excellent contrast to other evergreens in mixed plantings.
Its narrow, dense foliage provides good privacy screening, making it a great choice for some home landscapes.
It can reach up to 50 feet when mature.
Soil jot down: This tree prefers moist, well-drained soil but can tolerate dry conditions.
Unique Features: Green dragon spruce is highly resistant to pests and disease and rarely need pruning.
The needles are sharp to the touch and have a pleasant pine scent when crushed.
The branches are stiffly arranged in a pyramidal shape that tapers at the top.
The Korean Spruce prefers well-drained, acidic soils and a pH range of 4.5 to 6.0.
It needs full sun or partial shade and is moderately drought tolerant once established.
The tree is relatively disease-free, but can be affected by scale insects and spider mites.
The tree typically grows up to 25 feet tall, but can reach heights of up to 40 feet.
Koyamas spruce prefers a well-drained, acidic soil key in and a pH range between 4.5 and 6.5.
It requires full sun so that thrive and can tolerate temperatures down to -20F (-29C).
The tree is also known for its resistance to drought and pests.
This distinctive color makes it popular as an ornamental tree in parks, gardens, and backyards.
It has dark green needles in dense clusters and produces small cones.
The Meyers spruce prefers moist, well-drained soil types, such as sandy loam or silt loam.
Neutral to slightly acidic soil is best, with a pH range of 5.5-7.0.
Meyers spruce has a few unique features that make it an attractive addition to any landscape.
It is highly resistant to drought, making it a great choice for dry areas.
It also has relatively fast growth rates and can reach maturity in just five years.
Additionally, its bright green foliage provides year-round interest and beauty in the garden.
It grows in a pyramidal shape, eventually reaching heights of 4050 feet tall and 1520 feet wide.
The dark green needles are 1 inch long and slightly curved with a sharp point.
The bark is grayish-brown and scaly.
Growth habit: Morinda spruce grows slowly but steadily.
Soil throw in: Morinda spruce prefers deep, well-drained, acidic soil.
pH range: This tree does best in slightly acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0.
Light requirements: Morinda spruce prefers full sun exposure but can tolerate partial shade.
Unique features: Morinda spruce has several unique features that make it an attractive choice for landscaping.
The needles are dark green and the bark is grayish-brown, giving the tree an elegant look.
It is also resistant to many diseases and pest problems, making it a low-maintenance choice for gardeners.
The Norway spruce prefers moist, well-drained soils with a pH range between 4.5 and 7.
It can also tolerate drier soils and partial shade, but will perform best when provided with full sun.
They are typically four-sided and have blunt tips.
This tree is also known for its abundant cones which hang downward and are red-brown in color.
It is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia but is widely planted elsewhere as an ornamental.
It prefers full sun, though it will also tolerate partial shade.
The needles are sharp and blue-green in color and the bark is a reddish-brown color.
The cones are mostly purple, hence the name.
This tree prefers cooler climates and damp soil with good drainage.
It has a pyramidal shape, with an open crown and horizontal branches that become pendulous at the tips.
The bark is scaly or furrowed and gray to reddish-brown in color with small, yellow-green buds.
The needles are short and four-angled, about 1/2 inch long.
Growth habit: Red spruce is a slow grower with an upright, open form.
It can tolerate shade but does best in full sun.
Soil bang out: Red spruce prefers soil that is moist,-drained, and rich organic matter.
pH range: Red spruce prefers acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0.
Light requirements: Red spruce does best in full sun but can partial shade.
It also provides good cover for wildlife.
Sargents spruce (Picea brachytyla)
Sargents spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree native to North America.
Its growth habit is pyramidal, with dense branching and strong upright leaders.
It can grow up to 80 feet tall under ideal conditions and has a spread of 15-30 feet.
Unique features include its bright green needles, glossy bark and pinkish cones.
The bark is scaly and cinnamon-colored when young, adding a beautiful texture to the landscape.
It can be used as a specimen tree or planted in groups for screening and windbreaks.
It grows slowly, reaching heights of up to 30 feet (9 m).
Soil key in:Schrenks spruce does best in well-drained, moist soils with a slightly acidic pH.
It is tolerant of sandy or clay soil and can tolerate short periods of drought.
pH Range:The ideal soil pH range for Schrenks spruce is 4.5-7.0 (acidic to neutral).
Light Requirements:Schrenks spruce prefers full sun, though it can tolerate light shade.
It is also valued for its ornamental cones and grey-green foliage.
It has an upright, pyramidal growth habit and can reach heights of up to 80 feet when mature.
The cones of the Serbian spruce are reddish-brown and measure up to 1.5 inches long.
It has a pyramidal growth habit, with branches that are mostly horizontal and droop towards the tips.
The foliage is silvery green, stiff needles with pointed tips.
This species of spruce prefers moist well-drained soils, but will grow on a wide range of soil types.
To thrive it should be planted in an area with plenty of moisture and good drainage.
It can tolerate full sun if provided with adequate moisture.
It is an ideal choice for windbreaks, screens, accent trees or group plantings.
It can also be planted as a forest tree.
It grows best in moist, well-drained soil and prefers full sun to partial shade.
Light requirements: Sikkim spruce prefers full sun to partial shade.
In shade, it may have fewer needles and some minor damage from frost.
The cones are up to 1.5 inches long and have papery scales that can easily flake off.
The wood is heavy and durable, making it an excellent choice for timber production.
It is also widely used as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens.
It is renowned for its fast growth rate and attractive, conical shape.
Its crown is usually symmetrical, with branches that ascend upwards from the trunk.
It grows rapidly for the first 15-20 years, and then its growth rate slows thereafter.
The bark of the Sitka spruce is thin and scaly, with a reddish-brown color.
Soil throw in: The Sitka spruce prefers moist, well-drained soils that are high in organic matter.
It can tolerate some waterlogging, but will not do well in excessively wet or dry conditions.
Unique features: The Sitka spruce is known for its unique pendulous branchlets and attractive, blue-green needles.
Its cones are egg-shaped and have papery scales that are often described as resembling a shaggy mophead.
Taiwan spruce prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 5.06.5 and will tolerate partial shade.
It is drought tolerant once established and can withstand temperatures as low as -20C (-4F).
It is also resistant to damage from deer and Japanese beetle.
It has a pyramidal growth habit and reaches heights of up to 40 feet with a 15 foot spread.
This species prefers moist, well-drained soils and requires acidic soil with a pH range between 4.0 and 6.5.
Tiger-tail spruce requires full sun to partial shade, although it can tolerate more shade in warmer climates.
The most unique feature of the tiger-tail spruce is its scaly foliage.
The needles are bright green and have a distinctive banding pattern that looks like tiger stripes.
In the winter months, the leaves turn a bronze-purple color.
The bark is reddish-brown and scaly, with shallow grooves that give it a tiger-like texture.
The cones are 56 cm long and purple when unripe, then turning brown as they mature.
typically grows to between 25 and 35 feet height and has a pyramidal shape with ascending branches.
The bark is thin, grayish-brown in color, and covered with small, scaly plates.
It does require full sun for optimum growth and health, but will tolerate partial shade.
The bark is very thin and flaky and the wood is light in color.
It has an upright pyramidal shape with thin, gray-green needles that are short and sharp.
The bark is scaly and dark gray.
The cones are oval and reddish-brown.
Growth habit: White Spruce is a slow grower but can reach its full size within 80 years.
Soil key in: White Spruce prefers acidic, well-drained soils with a pH range of 4.56.0.
Light requirements: White Spruce prefers full sun to partial shade.
Too much shade can reduce the amount of light available for photosynthesis and stunt growth.
The foliage of White Spruce can be used to create a soft evergreen hedge or windbreak in the landscape.
It is alsopopular as a Christmas tree speciesdue to its attractive shape, texture, and color.
The wood of White Spruce is also used to make violins and other stringed instruments.
It has an upright pyramidal form, with thickly packed branches displaying short needles in blue-green shades.
For optimal growth, White Spruce prefers moist but well-drained soil and a pH range of 4.57.0.
The bark of the shrub is thin and scaly with an orangish-brown hue
35.
Its bark is light gray and rough, with ridges and furrows.
Its needles are bright green to blue-green in color and measure 1-2 cm long.
This tree thrives in moist, well-drained soil, especially those that are high in organic matter.
It will grow best in soil that has a pH range between 5.5 and 7.0.
It prefers full sun to partial shade, although it will tolerate some shade.
It is also very disease resistant and can withstand temperatures as low as -46F.
Due to its hardiness, this tree is well-suited for a variety of landscapes.
It also makes an excellent windbreak or privacy screen when planted in groupings.
Related:
Types of spruce trees in Canada.
There are five main types of spruce trees that inhabit Canadian forests.
These include:
Types of spruce trees in Michigan.
It has short, stiff, blue-green needles and a scaly bark that is reddish brown in color.
Commonly found in wetter areas, it can tolerate cold temperatures and some shade.
It has short, stiff green needles, and a gray-brown scaly bark.
It has long, stiff green needles and a gray-brown scaly bark.
This spruce is quite hardy, tolerating cold temperatures and dry soils as well.
Its commonly found in urban areas, parks, and larger landscapes.
Types of spruce trees in Colorado.
densata), Colorado White Spruce (Picea pungens ssp.pungens) and Southwestern White Spruce (Picea pungens ssp.
It grows at an elevation range of 1,000 to 11,000 feet.
The Engelmann spruce has a slightly bluish-green color and grows in an upright, conical shape.
It is often used for timber production.
Blue spruce is also found throughout Colorado, from 5,000 to 11,500 feet.
The Blue Spruce has a blue-green or silvery needle color and its needles are stiffer than other spruces.
It is a popular choice for windbreaks and timber production.
This species has blue-green needles that are shorter than those of Engelmann or Blue Spruce.
It has an upright conical shape with dense foliage that is a bright green color.
Southwestern White Spruce is native to Colorado and also found in Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.
It grows at elevations of 6,000 to 12,000 feet and can tolerate drier conditions than other spruces.
The Southwestern White Spruce has a blue-green needle color and its needles are shorter than those of other spruces.
It is a popular choice for windbreaks and timber production.
Types of spruce trees in Wisconsin.
Spruce trees can live for many years and provide shade and habitat for many animals.
They are also valuable sources of timber that can be harvested sustainably to support local economies.
In Wisconsin, spruce trees are an important part of the states ecology, economy and aesthetics.
Types of spruce trees in Minnesota.
White Spruces are the most commonly found in Minnesota.
They typically grow in dense, conical shapes and can reach heights of 80-100 feet.
Black Spruces are more commonly found in wetter, boggy areas and can grow up to 50 feet tall.
Blue Spruces have a silvery blue color that makes them popular for landscaping purposes.
They typically grow up to 40 feet tall.
Are there any specific types of spruce trees that are suitable for cold climates?
Junipers and yews are related to spruce trees, as they all belong to the evergreen conifer family.
They can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small shrubs to large trees.
Are there any types of spruce trees or shrubs that produce edible fruits?
Yes, some varieties of juniper produce edible fruits.
These berries are usually used in sauces and seasonings.
Yews also produce small red berries which can be eaten raw or cooked.
Are there any specific types of spruce trees that are better suited to wet climates?
Black hill spruces can also tolerate wet conditions, however they prefer drier climates.
How many different types of spruce trees are there?
There are over 35 species of spruce trees in the world.
Are there any specific types of shrubs that can tolerate windy conditions?
Yews are also suitable for windy spots, as long as they are planted in sheltered areas.
