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Picea glauca (White spruce): Information.
Identifying characteristics: There is considerable variability within the species and growth habits range from densely pyramidal to broadly conical, irregular and rugged. The trunk is usually tall, straight and tapering, and the branches horizontal, with the lower ones sloping downward. Trees are usually 40 to 60 feet tall (sometimes to 120 feet), and can live up to 200 years. The green or light blue-green foliage is linear to broadly needle-shaped, and crowded on the upper side of the branchlets. Leaves are stiff and slightly incurved, with fine white lines (stomata) on all 4 sides and a pointed, but not sharp, tip. Bruised leaves have a sharp, unpleasant odor. The hanging cones are 1 to 2.5 inches long, slender and cylindrical, with thin, tough, light brown, flexible scales with smooth, rounded margins. The non-resinous buds are blunt-pointed, with loosely overlapping, rounded scales with ragged margins that curl outward. The thin, smooth, light gray bark on young trees becomes darker and scaly with age. Freshly-exposed bark is a silvery, salmon-pink. Similar species: Norway spruce (P. abies) blue spruce (P. pungens) Ecology: Distribution: White spruce is the provincial tree of Manitoba. It grows at the Arctic tree line and is native from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Montana, Minnesota and New York. Habitat: Hardy from zone 2 to 6, this species can withstand extreme heat and cold and a variety of soil conditions, although it prefers moist, loamy or alluvial soils. It is found along streams and lake shores and adjacent rocky hills and slopes. It is the first species to invade abandoned farmland in the north, preferring full sun, but tolerating some shade. A few pests and diseases are common. The leaves may be prematurely shed due to various rust diseases; it is susceptible to trunk and root rot; and spruce bagworms, sawflies and red spiders can be serious insect pests. Uses: Wood: In the coniferous forests of Canada and the northern US this is an important timber tree. The wood is light but strong for its weight, soft, straight-grained and resilient. It is primarily used for paper pulp as it is readily available and has soft fibers. It is also used for boxes, crates, lumber and other products. The Native Americans used the pliable, tough roots to lace their birchbark canoes. Wildlife: The seeds are an important source of food for grouse and other birds. Red squirrels cut the young leader shoots and cones. The bark may be stripped by black bears to access the sweet sapwood. Trunks are often deformed when porcupines eat the bark. Horticulture: The white spruce makes an excellent windbreak in Iowa as it withstands heat, cold, drought and wind. It makes a good hedge plant as it tolerates crowding, but is also a good specimen plant. The Black Hills spruce (Picea glauca var densata), a smaller, more compact form, is available for the smaller yard. Picea glauca var. aurea is a golden yellow form of the species. The dwarf white spruce, 'Conica,' is a very slow-growing, but popular, broadly-conical cultivar with light green foliage.

Picea glauca (White spruce): Information.

Identifying characteristics:
There is considerable variability within the species and growth habits range from densely pyramidal to broadly conical, irregular and rugged. The trunk is usually tall, straight and tapering, and the branches horizontal, with the lower ones sloping downward. Trees are usually 40 to 60 feet tall (sometimes to 120 feet), and can live up to 200 years. The green or light blue-green foliage is linear to broadly needle-shaped, and crowded on the upper side of the branchlets. Leaves are stiff and slightly incurved, with fine white lines (stomata) on all 4 sides and a pointed, but not sharp, tip. Bruised leaves have a sharp, unpleasant odor. The hanging cones are 1 to 2.5 inches long, slender and cylindrical, with thin, tough, light brown, flexible scales with smooth, rounded margins. The non-resinous buds are blunt-pointed, with loosely overlapping, rounded scales with ragged margins that curl outward. The thin, smooth, light gray bark on young trees becomes darker and scaly with age. Freshly-exposed bark is a silvery, salmon-pink.

Similar species:

Ecology:
Distribution: White spruce is the provincial tree of Manitoba. It grows at the Arctic tree line and is native from Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Montana, Minnesota and New York.

Habitat: Hardy from zone 2 to 6, this species can withstand extreme heat and cold and a variety of soil conditions, although it prefers moist, loamy or alluvial soils. It is found along streams and lake shores and adjacent rocky hills and slopes. It is the first species to invade abandoned farmland in the north, preferring full sun, but tolerating some shade. A few pests and diseases are common. The leaves may be prematurely shed due to various rust diseases; it is susceptible to trunk and root rot; and spruce bagworms, sawflies and red spiders can be serious insect pests.

Uses:
Wood: In the coniferous forests of Canada and the northern US this is an important timber tree. The wood is light but strong for its weight, soft, straight-grained and resilient. It is primarily used for paper pulp as it is readily available and has soft fibers. It is also used for boxes, crates, lumber and other products. The Native Americans used the pliable, tough roots to lace their birchbark canoes.

Wildlife: The seeds are an important source of food for grouse and other birds. Red squirrels cut the young leader shoots and cones. The bark may be stripped by black bears to access the sweet sapwood. Trunks are often deformed when porcupines eat the bark.

Horticulture: The white spruce makes an excellent windbreak in Iowa as it withstands heat, cold, drought and wind. It makes a good hedge plant as it tolerates crowding, but is also a good specimen plant. The Black Hills spruce (Picea glauca var densata), a smaller, more compact form, is available for the smaller yard. Picea glauca var. aurea is a golden yellow form of the species. The dwarf white spruce, 'Conica,' is a very slow-growing, but popular, broadly-conical cultivar with light green foliage.