Picea mariana aka Black Spruce

Picea mariana, or black spruce, is an evergreen conifer. It belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. Its native range covers much of northern North America. It grows from Alaska across Canada to Labrador. Its range extends into the north-central and northeastern United States. Southern stands also grow in the mountains of Virginia. Wild trees grow on cool slopes and in bogs.

In gardens, trees reach 30–40 feet [9.1–12.2 metres] tall. Their width reaches 8–12 feet [2.4–3.7 metres]. Some trees reach 70 feet [21.3 metres] in height. Growth is slow, and the crown is narrow. It may form a cone or have an uneven outline. Thin branches hang down from the trunk. The thin bark has small scales and brown or gray tones. Young twigs are brown and bear fine hairs. Small buds have loose, gray-brown scales.

The stiff needles have four sides and dull blue-green tones. They crowd the shoots and sit on small woody pegs. The needles measure less than an inch in length. Crushing them releases a scent. Reproductive structures appear in spring. Young cones are purple, then turn brown by fall. The small cones have an egg-like shape. They become almost round when their scales open. Some stay on the tree for up to 30 years.

Black spruce grows best where summers stay cool. Heat and air pollution can cause problems. Full sun suits it, though it can accept light shade. It needs moist roots and favors acid soil. It grows in sand, loam, clay, and poor peat. Wet ground suits it, but moist, drained sites also work. Shallow soil can leave trees less secure in wind. Garden sources place it in USDA zones 2–5. Use it as a screen, specimen, or narrow accent. Birds nest in its branches. Wildlife eats its twigs, needles, and seeds. Weevils are among the pests listed for this tree. It also poses a high fire risk.

Its wood supplies pulp for paper and material for boxes. People have used its roots for cord and pitch for sealing. Reported foods include young male catkins and cooked immature cones. Cooked inner bark and raw seeds also have food uses. These serve mainly as scarce or emergency foods. Sawdust, resin, and needles can cause skin irritation in some people.