Black Hills Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Densata’)

Although named after the South Dakota region in which it is naturally found, Black Hills Spruce actually thrive in a much wider range of cooler climates, growing well in most areas of Alberta. It is a first cousin of the White Spruce.

Black Hills Spruce is a slow-growing, compact tree. Its dense growth makes it perfect for privacy screens and windbreaks. It’s short, bright bluish green needles and a dense, conical shape is well liked by landscapers. Black Hills Spruce is virtually immune to the most common spruce pests and is very tolerant of drying winter winds. These characteristics make it ideal as an ornamental, privacy screen or windbreak if you have some patience with its slower growth. Black Hills Spruce can reach heights of 80 feet over a life span of up to 300 years.

Its small, purplish cones may be its most striking feature, though these do turn brown as seeds mature.

Heavy seed production occurs every two to six years.

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