Woodie’s Picks: The Unmatched Beauty and Splendor of Spruce Trees
While we have great admiration for all conifer trees, there is one variety that never ceases to disappoint us. While many look to this specimen for splendor and class during the holiday season, using it as a Christmas tree, the magic of a Spruce Tree extends far beyond the holiday season and radiates year-round in the landscape.
In this week’s installment of Woodie’s Picks, we wanted to highlight the benefits of spruce trees and shed light on a few of our favorite varieties.
Key Benefits of Spruce Trees
Year-Round Interest & Structure
The first key benefit of planting these soft-needling specimens is the year-round interest and structure they bring to a landscape. Spruces offer a classic and clean pyramidal shape, along with evergreen needles that provide consistent color and form throughout the year. If you are looking for a cool-toned beauty to anchor your landscape through any and every season, a spruce tree is a great way to go.
Ecosystem Restoration
Beyond their elite form and consistent beauty, spruce trees are also known for being extremely beneficial to local ecosystems. They aid in purifying the air by absorbing CO2, prevent soil erosion with their root systems, and serve as a source of food and shelter for local birds and mammals.
Low-Maintenance & Hardy
Lastly, as if there weren’t already enough to love about spruce trees, they are also praised for their low-maintenance and hardy nature. Established spruces are adaptable to various soils and climates, tolerating cold, wind, and even drought.
Our Favorite Spruce Tree Varieties
Norway Spruce
As one of the most popular varieties of spruce trees, there is so much to love about the Norway Spruce. These evergreen giants are fast-growing, pyramidal icons with deep green needles, weeping branches, and long, pendulous cones. These beauties thrive in the cool northern climates of USDA zones 2 through 7. As one of the fastest-growing spruces on the market, you can expect your newly planted spruce to grow anywhere from one to three feet per year! The dense foliage on Norway Spruces makes them an excellent option for natural fences, privacy screens, and sound barriers. The classic landscape statements are known for tolerating urban conditions and handling a wide range of soil types.
Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce
If you want more of a cool statement in the landscape, the Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce is a stand-out option! Sporting a stunning, consistent silvery-blue, packaged into an impeccable pyramidal form, these icy-hued trees are sure to draw admiration to your property. These spruces are on the slower-growing side, making them an ideal option for smaller gardens, as focal points, or for use in containers. This tree is considered ‘semi-dwarf and reaches maturity at around 10-15 feet in a matter of 10 years or so.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Also in the realm of small but mighty is the fan-favorite: Dwarf Alberta Spruce! Typically reaching about 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity, the Alberta is another excellent option for smaller landscapes, foundation plantings, or porch pots! This small evergreen requires minimal pruning to maintain its sleek, pyramidal form, offering evergreen beauty and structure with little effort. Dwarf Alberta Spruce is small, but mighty! Persisting through cold weather and proving resistant to attention from deer, it is a resilient choice for any new yard project.
Baby Blue Spruce
Last on our list of iconic spruces to ‘spruce up’ the landscape, if you will, is the Baby Blue Spruce. If you were intrigued by the hues on the Fat Albert Blue Spruce, but are craving a more slender option, Baby Blue is your tree! The Baby Blue Spruce tends to be more slender, upright, and uniform, while offering that classic blue hue we all know and love. The Baby variety reaches maturity at approximately 15 to 25 feet tall and is best suited for narrower spaces or use as a privacy screen.
Shop Gorgeous Spruce Trees and More Online Today!
From towering landscape anchors to compact, container-friendly statements, spruce trees offer unmatched beauty, structure, and resilience in the garden. With their year-round color, environmental benefits, and easy-care nature, it is easy to see why spruces remain a timeless favorite among gardeners and designers alike.
Whether you are planting for privacy, curb appeal, or long-lasting seasonal interest, there is a spruce variety ideally suited to your space. Explore our favorite picks and discover how adding a spruce tree can elevate your landscape for years to come.