How much sun does Black spruce need?

Black spruce grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Black spruce bloom?

Black spruce blooms in May and June.

Where is Black spruce native?

Black spruce (Picea mariana) is native to CT, IL, MA, ME and 9 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Black spruce

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Picea mariana

Last reviewed: October 2026

Black spruce (Picea mariana) is a perennial tree native to CT, IL, MA, ME and 9 more states. It blooms in May and June.

Toxicity unknown

Black spruce (Picea mariana) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

180"–720" H × 96"–240" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

CT, IL, MA, ME and 9 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Picture natives in your own yard

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Ridge and Valley Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands

Narrow, spire-shaped evergreen conifer with short blue-green needles and small egg-shaped cones clustered near the branch tips, growing in cold bogs, swamps, and rocky uplands.

Growing Black spruce

Grow Black spruce in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 180 to 720 inches tall and spread 96 to 240 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Dense evergreen canopy and cones provide year-round food and shelter for birds and small mammals, including seed-eating finches.

Common questions

How much sun does Black spruce need?: Black spruce grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Black spruce bloom?: Black spruce blooms in May and June.
Where is Black spruce native?: Black spruce (Picea mariana) is native to CT, IL, MA, ME and 9 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Black spruce? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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