White spruce Picea glauca
White spruce (Picea glauca) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Pinaceae family, native to Boreal forest across Canada and Alaska. It grows 15–25 m (49–82 ft) tall and 4–7 m (13–23 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -50 °C (-58 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
Plan White spruce in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
White spruce at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Mature height | 15–25 m (49–82 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–7 m (13–23 ft) |
| Spacing | 5 m (16 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 4.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -50 °C (-58 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 1) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Boreal forest across Canada and Alaska |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada |
Is White spruce toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with White spruce
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See White spruce in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (8 plants)
Questions about White spruce
- How far apart should I plant White spruce?
- About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–7 m (13–23 ft).
- Does White spruce need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does White spruce need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is White spruce?
- It tolerates about -50 °C (-58 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 1.
- Is White spruce poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with White spruce?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for White spruce. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
Notes and assumptions
- A spire of blue-green needles; one of the northernmost trees, reaching the Arctic tree line.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Colorado blue spruce Picea pungens
- Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii
- Eastern white pine Pinus strobus
- Scots pine Pinus sylvestris
- Norway spruce Picea abies
- Siberian larch Larix sibirica
- Two-needle piñon Pinus edulis