Black Spruce Data Sheet

• Common name: Black spruce

• Latin name: Picea Mariana

• Genus: Picea

• Height: 15 m (50 ft)

• Type: Evergreen

• Hardiness: Zone 2–6

• Conservation status: Least concern

Pica Mariana, commonly known as the Black spruce, is an evergreen conifer native to Canada. Its range extends across all territories and extends down into the northern states of the USA.

This tree is generally found at low to medium altitudes, mostly from 200 m (650 ft) to 2000 m (6,550 ft).

The Black spruce is a small conifer, growing up to 15 m (50 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 20 inches. The bark is grey and scaly. The needles are greenish blue and stiff, growing to 15 mm long. The cones are small, just 4 cm long. The immature cones are purple, maturing to dark brown.

The Black spruce is closely related to the Red spruce and white spruce, which all share many of its characteristics.

This tree is not used for commercial timber due to the small size of the trunk. The wood is often used for making chopsticks.

This is a popular choice for bonsai enthusiasts. Despite the tree's irregular scruffy appearance, it is used for landscaping and gardens, the small size of the tree making an ideal specimen.

Pre Germination

These seeds need no pretreatment or stratification before sowing. Fill trays or pots with quality compost and firm down gently. Spread seeds across the surface; around 25 in a 10 cm pot is ideal. Cover with 3 mm of compost and gently firm down.

Keep compost damp, not soaking wet or dried out. Place pots or trays on a warm windowsill or in a warm conservatory. Germination should occur at 1–3 weeks.

Post Germination

Once seedlings appear, keep them in a well-ventilated area to reduce the risk of damping off disease. Place in a bright location such as a windowsill. Ensure seedlings never dry out. Water logging should also be avoided; young trees hate wet feet. Black Spruce seedlings are tiny and delicate early on so you will need to watch for damping off issues. They can be separated into their own 4" pots at 25–30 weeks; by this stage they are frost hardy and can stay outside. Fertilization is not required up to this point. During spring and summer we advise using an NPK 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4 weeks.

CAUTION: Slugs and snails love juicy young pines and spruce.

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