Picea engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce)
Engelmann Spruce, Mountain Spruce
Picea engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce) is a large evergreen conifer of narrowly conical habit in youth, becoming cylindrical with age. Its branches descend to sweep the ground and conceal the trunk. The stiff and sharp-pointed, 4-sided needles are blue-green above and blue-white underneath. Thin and scaly, the reddish-brown bark is flaking off in small circular plates. The pendulous, slender, cylindrical seed cones, up to 3 in. long (7 cm), are violet to deep purple, ripening buff-brown 4 to 7 months after pollination. Long-lived, Engelmann spruce will grow steadily for 300 years, long after the growth of most associated tree species slows down. Its resonant qualities make the wood of Engelmann Spruce valuable for piano sounding boards and violins.
- Grows up to 70-100 ft. tall (21-30 m) and 10-15 ft. wide (3-5 m).
- Performs best in full sun in moist, well-drained soils. Prefers cool climates and will struggle in hot and humid climate areas.
- No serious pest and disease issues. Keep an eye out for wood rot, brown rot and spruce budworm.
- No pruning required.
- Propagate by grafting or semi-hardwood cuttings.
- Native to western North America.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 8 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Conifers, Trees |
Plant Family | Picea - Spruces |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 70' – 100' (21m – 30m) |
Spread | 10' – 15' (3m – 4.5m) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Native Plants | United States, California, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico |
Tolerance | Deer |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |
Igor Kovalenko, Nikki Yancey, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 1
– 8 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Conifers, Trees |
Plant Family | Picea - Spruces |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Early,Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall Winter |
Height | 70' – 100' (21m – 30m) |
Spread | 10' – 15' (3m – 4.5m) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Native Plants | United States, California, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico |
Tolerance | Deer |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |