---

Foliage Color:  Blue-Green; Bright Green new growth

Fragrant Foliage:  Yes

Cones:  Yes, Purple turning Brown, leathery

Attracts:  Visual Attention

Resistances:  Cold (-50F), Deer, Disease, Drought (moderate when established), Insect

Picea glauca 'Densata', commonly called Black Hills Spruce, is a fine selection of our North American native white spruce. Its compact and naturally perfect pyramidal shape is more desirable than and superior to the species making it more resistant to winter injury, not to mention a better looking outdoor Christmas tree for decorating during the holiday season! Though under ideal conditions in its native North Dakota habitat it can reach up to 50 feet tall and 25 feet wide, it is most often seen at half that size in the landscape, making it an ideal choice for a specimen or in privacy screen plantings. The dense evergreen foliage emerges bright blue-green in spring maturing to a very handsome darker blue green. Abundant purplish-red cones in spring are an extra bonus. This magnificent beauty is attractive to wildlife as well, providing winter cover, nesting sites and forage for birds. Exceptionally disease resistant and cold hardy to -50F, the Black Hills Spruce appreciates life on the cool side in USDA Zones 2 through 6 in hot-summer climates and 2-8 in hot-summer climates. It is not a tree for the hot South.

The Black Hills Spruce is ideal for use as a focal point specimen in medium to large size garden spaces. A fine evergreen for framing the corners of tall homes and other structures or in privacy screen plantings. Can be grown in pots for situation on patios, decks and around other outdoor sitting and living spaces, but will eventually need to be transplanted to the landscape. A fine addition to conifer gardens, native plant gardens, wildlife gardens, bird gardens, formal gardens and alpine gardens.

Suggested Spacing:  12 feet apart for a privacy screen planting; 25 feet or more apart for space between trees

The Black Hills Spruce is easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility, including clay soils, and full to mostly sun. We suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. As with so many other conifers, constantly soggy or wet soils can be problematic; leading to root rot or other harmful plant diseases. So make sure to plant this one in well-drained soil, whether in the ground or in pots. In pots, soil moisture will need to be monitored more closely, especially during summer. When the top two inches of soil is dry, provide water.

Note:  Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop monitors or below on mobile devices.