Black Spruce

 Black Spruce

Picea mariana

Black Spruce is a great tree for wet sites and poor soil. Unlike other Spruce trees, this one grows where the soil never completely dries out. They naturally grow near bogs and swamps and occasionally near rivers. One of the most cold hardy evergreens to temps colder than -50°F.

Hardiness: USDA Zones (1) 2-6

(unlikely to grow in most zone 1 locations, as summer temps usually aren't warm enough to support trees; struggles with summer heat in areas higher than zone 5)

Mature Size: 30'-60' tall by 10'-25' wide

Light: Full sun-part shade

Water: Moist-wet

 Grows in the wettest areas, minor drought tolerance once established, young trees have no drought tolerance

Soils: Requires neutral to acidic soils; grows in the poorest soils

Intolerant of alkaline soils. Suffers in dry alkaline soils. Keep consistently moist and pH below a 7. Doesn't require good fertile soils to thrive.

 

Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen