Picea glauca (01/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 30m
Eventual Spread: 10m
Hardiness: 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a
Family: Pinaceae
Picea glauca is an evergreen conifer tree with a conical habit. Its blue/ green leaves are needle like rigid and up to 2cm long. Its grey/ brown bark is thin and scaly. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 1m. The monoecious flowers are ornamentally inconspicuous. Its fruit are narrow hanging cylindrical cones which are up to 7cm long, 2.5cm broad and borne near the end of its shoots. These are initially green/ red, maturing to pale brown.
Picea glauca, commonly known as White Spruce or Canadian Spruce is native to North America. In its native habitat it grows in temperate boreal forests.
The etymological root of the binomial name Picea is derived from the Lain Pix meaning ‘pitch or tar’ in reference to the trees resin. Glauca is from the Latin meaning ‘blue/ grey’.
The landscape architect may find Picea glauca useful as an attractive evergreen specimen parkland tree. This tree is suitable for planting as a shelter belt due to its wind resistance. It should be noted that it dislikes heat and humidity and is happiest in climate zones 3a to 4b.
Picea glauca Leaf (01/03/2015, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Picea glauca seeds are attractive to some birds and mammals.
The Royal Horticultural Societies award a number of varieties of Picea glauca its award of garden merit.
Picea glauca prefers moist, humus rich soils. It will tolerate most soil pH although it prefers acid soils.
Picea glauca requires little maintenance.