Content Detail

Black Hills spruce is a small to medium height tree with a dense habit and a broad, pyramidal form. It is a good addition to residential landscapes, or for use in windbreaks.

  • Family (English) Pine
  • Family (botanic) Pinaceae
  • Planting site Residential and parks
  • Tree or plant type Tree
  • Foliage Evergreen (foliage year-round)
  • Native locale North America
  • Size range Small tree (15-25 feet), Medium tree (25-40 feet)
  • Mature height 20-40 feet
  • Mature width 10-15 feet
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois)
  • Soil preference Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances Dry sites, Road salt
  • Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late winter, early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
  • Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
  • Shape or form Round
  • Growth rate Moderate
  • Transplants well Yes
  • Wildlife Browsers, Nesting birds, Songbirds
  • Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat: 

This tree is found in the Black Hills area of South Dakota.

Bark color and texture: 

The scaly bark is silvery-gray in color.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture: 

The green to blue-green evergreen needles are brighter than those of the species. They are held singly on the stem. The foliage is denser than that of the species.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size: 

The inconspicuous, male and female flowers are on the same tree, in different structures (monoecious).

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions: 

Pendulous brown cones reach 1 to 2 inches long at maturity.

Plant care: 

Black Hills spruce tolerates a wide range of conditions.

List of pests, diseases, and tolerances: 

Mites, bagworms, and sawfly are potential pests of this tree.

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