Picea sitchensis aka Sitka Spruce

Picea sitchensis, or Sitka spruce, is an evergreen conifer. It belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. Its native range follows the Pacific coast from Alaska to California. It grows best where cool air and coastal fog supply moisture. Most wild trees grow close to the sea. It is Alaska's state tree and can live beyond 1,300 years.

Garden trees reach about 40–60 feet [12–18 metres] tall. RHS describes trees reaching 164 feet [50 metres]. NC State reports an extreme of 230 feet [70 metres]. RHS lists a spread of 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres]. The crown forms a cone, with spreading or drooping branches. Low branches may reach the ground. Young bark is thin, smooth, and gray. Older bark forms dark, purple-brown scales. Stout twigs range from yellow-brown to orange-brown. Each needle grows from a small woody peg. The stiff needles have sharp tips and pale undersides.

Male and female cones develop from April into early June. Small male cones are red and stand upright. Female cones grow near the crown and have thin scales. Seed cones turn pale brown or tan as they mature. They ripen in late summer, and seeds fall in October. Trees may take 15–40 years to start bearing cones. Small birds eat the seeds, while eagles nest or roost overhead. Deer and squirrels use the tree for cover. Deer and elk also browse young shoots.

Grow this tree in full sun and deep, moist soil. Good drainage suits garden planting, though it tolerates wetter ground. It accepts clay, loam, or sand, with acid or neutral pH. Cool, moist coastal sites suit it best. Sources list USDA zones 7–8 and UK hardiness H7. It tolerates salt spray, but severe storms can topple trees. Its size limits its place in small gardens. Large sites can use it as a specimen tree. It needs no routine pruning. Aphids, adelgids, beetles, weevils, scales, and mites can attack it. Fungal root and stem rots, including honey fungus, pose risks.

People have used the roots for baskets, hats, and cord. The wood has served in boats, aircraft, guitars, and pianos. Indigenous peoples also used bark in traditional remedies. Young shoots, seeds, and inner bark have recorded food uses. Young male cones can be eaten raw or cooked. Immature female cones are eaten cooked. Inner bark served as an emergency food. PFAF reports no known hazards; this does not establish universal safety.