Picea / Spruce
picea / spruce
Many are familiar with the ever popular Colorado Spruce that are often used as windbreaks and windrows around farmsteads and fields throughout the North Dakota and surrounding regions. They create a dense canopy that helps to serve the purpose of blocking and slowing wind. There are also several smaller spruce choices that make excellent hardy accent and foundation plants. View our selection of Spruce items below.
spruce shrub varieties
Bird's Nest Spruce
Height: 3 ft
Spread: 2 - 3 ft
Foliage: Evergreen
Fall Foliage: Evergreen
Zone: 3 - 7
Picea abies 'Nidiformis'
A beautiful dwarf spruce, broad, dense and slow growing. Light green foliage on spreading branches rises up slightly with nodding tips. A distinctive plant for rock gardens or specimen use buds emerge a rich bright green in spring and mature a deep forest green. Hardy, best in full sun or minimal shade.
Uses:
Foundation Plant, Accent Plant,
Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
This slow growing evergreen has pendulous branching, creating a unique specimen plant for the landscape. The short, dark green needles are attractive year round. Size varies greatly depending on how the plant is staked. Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Uses:
Foundation Plant, Accent Plant, Focal Point
Height: 6 ft
Spread: 6 - 8 ft
Foliage: Evergreen
Fall Foliage: Evergreen
Zone: 3 - 7
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Height: 5 ft
Spread: 2 - 3 ft
Foliage: Evergreen
Fall Foliage: Evergreen
Zone: 4 - 6
Picea glauca 'Conica'
Very slow growing, conical, miniature spruce. Bright green new growth changing to blue-green. Useful in small gardens or for miniature accent points. Best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade.
**Needs some winter protection in zone 4 in exposed areas.**
Uses:
Foundation Plant, Accent Plant, Focal Point
Globe Blue Spruce
Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa'
Compact, rounded to mound shaped with beautiful blue foliage. Valuable as an accent or specimen plant. Very slow growth.
Uses:
Foundation Plant, Accent Plant,
Height: 2 - 5 ft
Spread: 3 - 6 ft
Foliage: Blue Gray
Fall Foliage: Evergreen
Zone: 3 - 7
Fastigiata Spruce
Height: 6 - 15 ft
Spread: 2 - 4 ft
Foliage: Blue Gray
Fall Foliage: Evergreen
Zone: 2 - 7
Picea pungens var. glauca 'Fastigiata'
'Fastigiata' is a popular selection because of its tight, columnar habit and attractive, blue color. Since it will not grow as tall as the species, nor as wide, it is the perfect choice for planting in a smaller areas. Often used as a focal point, in a foundation planting and also in containers. The branches of 'Fastigiata' will spread with age, but can be kept tight with shearing.
Uses:
Foundation Plant, Accent Plant, Focal Plant
spruce tree varieties
Black Hills Spruce
Picea glauca densata
Shapely "Christmas tree" type evergreen, with short, blue-green needles. Shears easily. Useful as a specimen, hedge, or windbreak. Best in full sun, but tolerates light shade. This strain was discovered in the Black Hills of South Dakota, hence its given name.
Uses:
Accent Plant, Focal Plant, Windbreak
Height: 35 - 45 ft
Spread: 25 - 30 ft
Foliage: Green
Fall Foliage: Evergreen
Zone: 2 - 7
Colorado Spruce
Height: 35 - 45 ft
Spread: 25 - 30 ft
Foliage: Green to Blue - Green
Fall Foliage: Evergreen
Zone: 2 - 7
Picea pungens
This beautiful spruce varies in color from gray-green to blue-green. A broad, pyramid-shaped evergreen. The dense foliage needs little shearing. Excellent as a specimen, hedge or windbreak. Likes fully exposed, well drained locations. Best in full sun.
Uses:
Accent Plant, Focal Plant, Windbreak
The best time to prune spruce trees is in late winter when they're still dormant. Pinching can be done in June & July when young growth is still in the "candle" stage.