Black Hills Spruce
Picea glauca var densata
Black Hills spruce is a variety of white spruce native to the Black Hills of south dakota. It's much bushier than White spruce, somewhat more drought tolerant.
If you have the patience, this is a good windbreak tree for restricted spaces.
Used in combination with Colorado spruce if you want a row that alternates blue-white/dark green. Alternate with White spruce if you want alternation of tall/short.
Like all spruce little grows underneath. In a yard it looks tidier to trim the dead branches from under the tree. You can get a neater appearance by taking off just enough of the lower branches so that you can run the lawn mower under the edge.
Light: Full sun to light shade.
Soil: Most soils. Doesn't do well on sandy very quick draining soils. Doesn't do well on soil that is saturated for more than a few weeks in spring. Tolerates alkaline soil.
Recommended: Shelterbelts, boulevards, specimen
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Sherwood's Forests is located about 75 km southwest of Edmonton, Alberta. Please refer to the map on our Contact page for directions.