White Spruce

White spruce is native to Minnesota’s northern forests and one of the toughest evergreens you can plant here. It keeps a dense, narrow pyramid of short blue-green needles and holds its lower branches for years, which is why it’s a standard in farm windbreaks and shelterbelts.

It handles cold, wind, and a wide range of soils, including clay, and grows steadily once established. Black Hills spruce is a naturally compact variety of white spruce; choose white spruce when you want more height and a faster screen, and Black Hills spruce when you want a denser, slower tree.

Growing conditions

• Hardiness zone: 2
• Mature height: 40-60 feet
• Mature spread: 10-20 feet
• Growth rate: 1-2 feet per year
• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Water: Medium
• Tolerates: Cold, wind, clay soil