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Black Spruce

Picea mariana (PY-see-uh mar-ee-AH-nuh)

Family: Pinaceae Unknown Canopy (>40 ft)

The Black Spruce grows in a conical, spire-like form. Grown best in cool climates, dislikes summer heat and prefers moderately moist soil. The long wood fibers of black spruce and most often used for pulpwood, used for producing high-quality papers.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 44 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Tree
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf size
< 1 inch long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
4-sided dull bluish-green needles
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Purplish cones that mature to brown in the fall
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Purple/Lavender
Fruit detail
Fruit Type: Cone
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Light Brown; Light Gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Twigs, leaves, and seed serve as food for wildlife. Nesting site for birds.
Attracts
Butterflies; Songbirds
Play value
Pieces Used in Games; Wildlife Nesting
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Recreational Play Area; Woodland
Landscape theme
Children's Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border
Garden tags
#evergreen #conifer #children's garden #playground plant #fragrant needles
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Pests of Conifers; Deodar Weevil / Eastern Pine Weevil
Propagation
Leaf Cutting; Root Cutting; Seed; Stem Cutting
Fire risk
extreme flammability

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.