Alphabetical Plant Listing

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

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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

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Picea - Spruces

Guides with Picea - Spruces

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