33 White Spruce Facts: Uses, Habitat, Characteristics And More

All large trees grow at a very slow rate compared to house plants or other species of smaller plants, however, when it comes to the white spruce tree they have a moderate growth rate.

Western white spruce grows to a height of 2 ft (0.6 m) every year, this is pretty impressive compared to other trees in this genus. Since the white spruce tree has a creamy white and considerably light wood, it's most often used for construction purposes.

White spruce trees (Picea glauca) are a species of trees that are known for their distinctive white cream-colored wood. There are several spruce species and the name of this species came from the Greek language.

Spruce trees basically got their name due to their bright and milky-colored wood. The white spruce is also a very famous Christmas tree, although apart from being a Christmas tree, some animals also eat the bark of the spruce tree.

The cones, needles, bark, and twigs are eaten by spruce grouse.

Other smaller animals rely on the seeds of the white spruce tree. While some animals eat the cone scales, needles, and the bark of the white spruce.

Red squirrels also eat the seeds of the white spruce, they do so by cutting open the cones of the white spruce. Their bark is also very thin which helps other birds to get worms out of it.

White Spruce Facts

Under the white spruce tree family comes a number of trees, one of which is the black spruce. They are large trees and are famous as Christmas trees.

• White spruce have cylindrical-shaped cones and very green leaves.
• The cones are eaten by animals.
• The young trees are a little less pyramid in shape but as the tree grows they become fully pyramid in shape and structure.
• The white spruce is ripped in early fall and their mature seeds are eaten by squirrels.
• They all belong to the Picea glauca genus.
• The white spruce grow on the northern side with other spruces.
• They are large trees and are famous as Christmas trees.

White Spruce's Habitat

There are numeral uses of both white spruce and black spruce. In some regions, the white spruce is also known as skunk spruce.

• It's used for planks and for making boxes, doors, and crates.
• White spruce generally grows in upland sites and requires well-drained soil.
• The white spruce is grown with a number of other species such as the trembling aspen, the black spruce.
• In their natural habitat, they grow in well-drained soil.
• A soil with a pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 is best for this tree.
• The white spruce, Picea glauca also requires full sun during the growing years.
• It's best to grow them during mid to late summer.

White Spruce's Uses

White spruce are tough trees, they don't easily die and they also do very well in cold climates. They are also used for construction.

• The white spruce wood is softwood.
• They are not hardwood trees, hence they are used for basic construction.
• The wood of the white spruce is used for making doors, boards, boxes, or crates.
• In some areas, they are also used for making roof decking.
• The white spruce is also known as the state tree of South Dakota city.
• The white spruce wood is decent wood, its rot resistance, and every so often the wood has a very fine texture.
• Although, there are some downsides to the wood as well. The white spruce wood is not entirely insect infestation-free, they are vulnerable to such infection.
• These woods are also not drought tolerant.
• The wood of this tree is mostly only used for inside construction only as pulpwood.

White Spruce's Characteristics

The white spruce, Picea glauca is natural deer resistant. Hence, deers don't eat the wood of Picea gluaca.

• The needles of the Picea glauca have a very unpleasant smell which keeps deers away, hence deers don't eat these trees.
• Although many species of animals feed on cones, needles, and the back of the white spruce, deers are not one of them.
• These trees have green needles and green leaves and their cones are very often brown in color.
• Although, in some areas, the needles of the white spruce are blue in color or blue-green in color.
• When the white spruce are young they often smell very bad.
• As they age they start smelling pleasant.
• These trees have a very narrow crown and they grow up to a height of 131 ft (40 m).
• A fully mature white spruce is a pyramid in shape and has a diameter of 3 ft (1 m).
• Their needles are four-sided and are often very sharp.
• The needles are of a different color for different species of white spruce.
• The tree is very tolerant towards cold seasons and they often grow in all conditions, they are excellent for Christmas decorations or for ornamental value at home.