Black Hills Spruce

Description

The Black Hill Spruce is a first cousin of the White Spruce that developed in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They grow in a narrow area above 5000 ft in elevation. It is a slow (6”-12” per year) growing very compact evergreen.

It will grow up to 40+ ft tall and 20+ ft wide. As with the white spruce, it is very wind-firm and is not easily damaged by heavy snow or ice storms. This tree can live 80 or more years in windbreaks west of Iowa. Deer will normally not eat this species unless nothing else is available.

It will grow well in hardiness zones from 3-5 and does well in various soils, with well-drained being the best.  It will survive dry and hot areas better than other spruces and seems to get along fine with 10” of rain a year or more. Fungal diseases in wet areas and times of excess rainfall can affect the Black Hills spruce. Putting them on an outside row and not in the middle of a windbreak will lessen this problem.

We recommend spacing in a single row 16 feet apart, a double row 18 feet apart, or multiple rows 20 feet apart with trees staggard for the other rows. A 2’ tall potted tree should be over 5 ft tall in 5 years provided it is planted in good soil with adequate moisture and weed and grass control around the base with no mulch.

The Black Hills spruce is a recommended windbreak tree west of Iowa in dryer climates. East of Nebraska we have seen fungal problems due to excessive rain and moisture. We do not think this is a good tree for the first 3 rows of a basic windbreak. If a larger windbreak with more rows was used they could be put in as the extra rows. We think the White Spruce is a better tree for a windbreak if you like the look of the Black Hills Spruce. The Black Hills Spruce does well not as a windbreak, but alone where sun and wind can keep the fungal disease at bay.