Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Western United States
Types
-
Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Picea omorika
Number of Varieties
325
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Rocky areas, stream banks, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-92-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
8-1
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm1,200.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm900.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
Green, Orange, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Blue Green, Gray Green, Steel Blue
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Needle like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring, Late Spring, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Semi-ripe cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Prune in winter, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
Apply 10-10-10 amount, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
Asthma
allergic reaction, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hay fever, Pollen, Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas tree
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control, Wildlife
Air purification, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Flowers, Inner Bark, Seeds
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Paper pulp, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
PICEA pungens
Common Name
River Birch
Colorado blue spruce
In Hindi
River Birch
Blue Spruce Tree
In German
Fluss Birch
Blue Spruce Baum
In French
Birch river
Blue Spruce Arbre
In Spanish
river Birch
Blue Spruce Árbol
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Blue Spruce Tree
In Portuguese
river Birch
Árvore Spruce azul
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Blue Spruce Drzewo
In Latin
Betula
Blue abiegnis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Coniferophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Fagales
Pinales
Family
Betulaceae
Pinaceae
Genus
Betula
Picea
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Piceoideae
Number of Species
335
1
27800
👆🏻