Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Roland Tanglao

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Picea sitchensis

Also Known As

Coast Spruce
Sitka Spruce
Tideland Spruce
Yellow Spruce

Plant type

tree, conifer

size

H: 100'-300'
W: 30'-80'

planting zones

6a-9b

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Picea sitchensis plant details

Picea sitchensis is an evergreen conifer tree with green foliage. and brown fruit. Features glossy texture. Attracts birds. Grows well with sun and regular water. Does well in average and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Picea sitchensis

Plant type: conifer tree
Plant family: pinaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 30 FT - 80 FT - wide, 100 FT - 300 FT - tall
Uses: bare root shipping available, bonsai, windbreak, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Picea sitchensis

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: regular
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, seaside / salt and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

The Sitka Spruce is probably one of the best Spruce species for pruning and shaping and creates a wonderful lawn specimen. The dense foliage and medium growth rate creates an easily manageable evergreen windbreak or privacy screen that is nearly impenetrable. Depending on the amount of sunlight, trees can take on either a dark green or slightly blue-tinted color with the blue color appearing when given partial shade. It is a good alternative to the Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) in cool, wet climates where the Colorado Blue Spruce is subject to frequent needle loss problems.

Sitka Spruce is native to the Western Coast from western Canada down to near the Oregon/California border. In the north end of its range it can become quite massive because of its strong wood and steadfast roots. A Sitka Spruce in Oregon has a trunk diameter of 18 feet!

Recently, because of its ability to generate dense growth and ease of pruning and shaping, the Sitka Spruce has become more and more popular for Christmas tree growers. Trees produce a gorgeous conical shape with dense foliage with very little pruning. Like other spruce species, the needles are fairly sharp and pointy.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Needles are about 1" long; sharp; yellow-green to blue green; usually flat. Some needles on a twig point sideways while others point forward. Needles tend to look green above and blue-green to white below. Tall narrow tree native to the Pacific Northwest, deer resistant.

By: Kigi Nursery

The majesty of the Sitka is not all in its size [very large & fast for a spruce], but in the noble bearing of the crown... The branches have an upward sweep... the branchlets... a beautiful weeping habit. (Peattie). Sun/Med