Black Hills Spruce

General
Scientific Name: Picea glauca var. densata
Family: Pinaceae (Pine)
Hardiness: Zone 2
Leaves: Evergreen
Plant Type: Tree
Growth
Rate: Medium
Mature Height: >45’
Longevity: Long
Power Line: No
Ornamental
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Fruit: Tan cones
Fall Color: n/a

A large tree, very dense and pyramidal when young. Not as drought tolerant as Colorado (blue) spruce, but more disease tolerant than Colorado (blue) spruce. Black Hills spruce is a naturally occurring variety of white spruce (Picea glauca), native to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Better adapted than white spruce which is native in the eastern United States, as far west as Minnesota. The largest Black Hills spruce tree in North Dakota is 98 feet tall with a canopy spread of 43 feet.

Light: Full sun
Water: Fairly drought resistant. Needs additional moisture during drought
Soil: Grows best in moist loams

Dwarf Alberta spruce (P. glauca ‘Conica’) - A dwarf, compact cultivar very subject to winterburn and spider mites.

Credits: Tree Selector Website, North Dakota Tree Handbook