Black Spruce - Picea mariana

Phonetic: PY-see-uh mar-ee-AH-nuh

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1 Gallon Pot- 2-2.5'

Black spruce, is a hardy evergreen conifer native to the boreal forests of North America,  It thrives in full sun and prefers cold, wet, acidic soils, often growing in bogs, peatlands, and other poorly drained areas where few other trees can survive. Black spruce is highly tolerant of nutrient-poor conditions and cold climates. Although it grows slowly, it is remarkably resilient, capable of regenerating after fire or frost, and can also establish on drier upland sites when competition is limited.

Black spruce typically blooms between April and May when the weather begins to warm. The tree is monoecious, producing both male and female cones on the same plant. Pollination is carried out by wind, and fertilized female cones mature slowly, often taking a full year to ripen. The small, round cones usually remain closed for several years and can persist on branches long after ripening. Some of the cones are serotinous, meaning they open to release seeds only after exposure to heat from fire.  The tiny, winged seeds are then dispersed by wind, allowing rapid colonization of disturbed areas.

Black Spruce is a cornerstone species of the northern boreal forest. It is a host plant for the Bog Elfin Butterfly. Its dense growth provides critical nesting and roosting habitat for birds such as boreal chickadees, crossbills, and spruce grouse, as well as shelter for mammals like martens and snowshoe hares. The seeds are an important food source for small birds and rodents, while the tree’s presence stabilizes wet soils and regulates water flow in boggy landscapes.

2nd photo credit: By Daniel Case - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47198669

• Hardiness Zone: 2-5
• Native Region: BONAP Map
• BONAP Map Key Color Guide: Map Color Key
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Flower Color: Red, Yellow, Purple
• Bloom Time: April, May, June
• Soil Type: Medium - Moist
• Mature Plant Size: 30-40'H, 8-12'W
• Plant Spacing: 6-10'
• Host Plant: Bog Elfin Butterfly
• Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Birds
• Advantages: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Poor Soil
• Landscape Uses: Borders, 
• Companion Plants: Bunchberry, Lowbush Blueberry, Ninebark, Virginia Rose