Grown for its foliage, blue-green needles that measure 1/2" long, size, texture and shape. A dense, compact shrub with a nest-like depression. Grows best in a location with cool summers in bogs, bottomlands, flatlands, and dry slopes. Prefers rich soil, but will tolerate poor soil. During its youth, the plant requires constant moisture and not allowed to dry out. As the plant matures, less moisture is required. Black Spruce is sometimes effected by eastern dwarf mistletoe, needle cast, needle rusts, and canker. Aphids, budworms, and bagworms may also have an effect. More information on Picea mariana .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheCedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue'Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii'Juniperus conferta 'Variegata'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The shrub is grown for the foliage that when new is blue-green, gray-green summer color. Short, straight, flexible leaves taper to a long point but not sharp.