← Back to Plant Finder

Black Spruce
Picea mariana

Slow-growing, long lived-up to 200 years. Common along marshes and bogs. Heat from fire opens cones. Low drought tolerance. May not be suitable for the middle of a raingarden.

USDA symbol: PIMA

General Information

Plant TypeTree
Height30 to 35 feet
Light ExposureSun, Part Sun, Shade
Soil MoistureMedium
Bloom ColorYellow, Red, Brown
Black Spruce (Black Spruce<div><em class="small">Picea mariana</em></div>)
Photo credit: Minnesota Wildflowers (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceLow
General Resilience5
Salt ToleranceNone
Stress ToleranceAcidic Conditions

Pollinator Value: Medium

Bloom MonthsJune
Larval Host ofMoths
Specific Pollinators HostedZeiraphera canadensis

Project Planning

Project TypeErosion Control, Restoration
Coefficient of Conservatism9
Herbivore SensitivityMedium
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadSlow
Soil StabilizationDeep
Vegetative ReproductionAbsent

Range

CountyAitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Douglas, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pine, Polk, Roseau, St. Louis, Todd, Wadena
EcoregionDriftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands