The author of the text is Katarzyna Pruchniewicz
White Spruce is a coniferous tree also called Pices canadensis.It grows from the central regions of Alaska to the northern states of the USA, most often near rivers and lakes.Forms homogeneous or mixed forests, occurring with black spruce, red spruce, balsam fir, American larch and birch.
In its homeland, white spruce reaches a height of up to 30 meters. In Europe, it is much lower. The crown of young trees is very regular, dense, conical with stiff, raised side branches. With age, the spruce loses its crown regularity and the side branches begin to hang down.The bark is gray-brown, flaky with small fragments.
Young shoots are bare, light gray, covered with a bluish coating.Leaves - needles up to 2 centimeters long, are blue-green on the top, bluish-white on the underside, prickly. Cones are elongated, up to 7 centimeters longUnripe green, light brown when ripe. In cultivation, trees create cones very abundantly every year, which fall during autumn and winter.
In Europe, white spruce has been cultivated since the beginning of the 18th century. It was often planted in parks, forests and for hedges. A mature plant is resistant to low temperatures and drought, but grows best in humid climates and in fertile soil.Until 20 years it grows rapidly, then the growth slows down sharply and the tree grows abundantly in cones.
Popular varieties of white spruce
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Due to its size, white spruce is rarely grown in home gardens, but many beautiful and dwarf varieties have been bred, which grow well in sunny and semi-shaded positions on moderately fertile soil.Plants should be watered abundantly during long-term drought.White spruce is suitable for habit and color combinations, solo and in loose groups.
