2 Native Spruce Trees In Minnesota (Photos & Identification)
In Minnesota, spruce trees are the most common coniferous trees. Although there aren’t many native varieties, the two that do exist are plentiful.
In addition to their natural presence in the state, both white and black spruce trees are commonly used in reforestation projects and as a source of timber and pulpwood in Minnesota’s forestry industry.
So, if you have some space in your backyard or front yard, you can grow one of these native spruce trees in Minnesota and contribute to the administration’s reforestation efforts.
To make things easier for you, I will walk you through both of these native varieties along with high-quality photos and detailed descriptions.
Let us begin.
1. Black Spruce
- Common Name: Black Spruce
- Scientific Name: Picea mariana
- Mature Height: 20 to 30′, but can reach up to 70 to 80′ in better soil
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Oval-shaped cones
- Uses: Paper pulp and Christmas trees.
The Black Spruce is a tiny tree with drooping branches and a straight trunk. This tree can grow up to 70 to 80 feet tall in richer soil, but it is usually only 20 to 30 feet tall.
It is frequently found in the vicinity of tamarack, balsam, and white cedar. Like the white spruce, the bark is black and scaly.
The leaves of the Black Spruce are bluish-green, short, pointed, four-sided, and shorter than those of the White Spruce. These leaves are strewn thinly across the branches.
The cones are oval-shaped, with purple immature cones that mature into dark brown cones that remain on the trees permanently. In the fall, these cones open to release little, dark brown, winged seeds.
This tree is native to Minnesota’s northern and northeastern regions, ranging as far south as northern Anoka County.
This tree’s wood is yellow-white, light, soft, and moderately robust, making it an excellent choice for paper pulp and Christmas trees. It is not, however, commonly used for decorative planting.
2. White Spruce
- Common Name: White Spruce
- Scientific Name: Picea glauca
- Mature Height: Up to 100 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native to northern Minnesota and surrounding areas
- Flowers/Cones: Slender cones, around 2 inches in length
- Uses: Paper production, construction, ornamental purposes, and as a Christmas tree.
The White Spruce trees are the tallest spruce trees in Minnesota that can reach 100 feet in height and 2 feet in diameter. The trunk is straight, and the long branches come together to form a broad conical head. The White Spruce’s bark is scaly and dark gray or gray-brown.
The leaves of the White Spruce are four-sided and densely packed along the branchlets. They are pale bluish when young and dark bluish-green when mature. The leaves are sharply pointed and have a slightly pungent odor when crushed.
The White Spruce grows slender cones about 2 inches long. Cone scales that have grown are spherical and soft at the ends, as well as thin and flexible. The cones drop after opening and shedding seeds during the winter, and the narrow-winged seeds mature in a single season.
The forests of northern Minnesota, all the way to the St. Croix Valley, are densely forested with white spruce trees. They thrive in both dry soils with pine and damp soils and marshes with balsam and tamarack. White Spruce is often found in mixed hardwood stands.
The White Spruce is used to make many different products, the most important of which is paper. The largest trees are sawed into lumber, which is then used in general construction, airplanes, furniture, canoe paddles, and musical instrument sounding boards.
White spruce is also commonly planted for ornamentation, windbreaks, and shelter belts. It’s also a great choice for a Christmas tree.
Spruce Trees In Michigan – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Spruce trees are one of the most commonly seen conifers in the state. In this section, I will be answering some of the questions that were asked on the internet related to the native and most common spruce trees in Minnesota.
Do spruce trees grow in Minnesota?
Yes, spruce trees can be found in Minnesota. Spruce trees are one of the most common types of trees in the state’s northern regions. The white spruce (Picea glauca) and the black spruce (Picea mariana) are two native spruce tree species in Minnesota.
White spruce trees are commonly found in upland areas and can reach heights of 80 feet. They have blue-green needles and a narrow, conical shape. In contrast, black spruce trees have evolved to thrive in wetlands and other low-lying areas. They grow more slowly and smaller than white spruce trees and have shorter, dark green needles.
Will Blue Spruce grow in Minnesota?
While Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is a popular and widely planted species throughout the United States, it is not well-suited to Minnesota’s climate and soil conditions.
Blue spruce trees are native to the Rocky Mountains and the southwestern United States and prefer a dry climate with well-drained soil. The climate in Minnesota is colder and more humid, and the soil is more acidic and moist. These conditions can make it difficult for Blue Spruce trees to thrive.
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Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Minnesota’s Native Trees, Department Of Natural Sciences, Minnesota State.
- Forestry Division, Minnesota State.
- Yard And Garden, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Native Plants, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Select Trees And Shrubs For Minnesota Landscapes, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Trees and shrubs for pollinators, University Of Minnesota Extension
- Department Of Agriculture, Minnesota State.
