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Native Plant Database

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Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.

Sitka spruce

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

USDA Symbol: PISI

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The world’s largest spruce, with tall, straight trunk, from buttressed base, and broad, open, conical crown of horizontal branches. Sitka spruce is a 50-100 ft. tree wide spreading, rigidly branched and drooping branchlets. Bark is scaly and dark red-brown. Needles are green on the lower surface, white above.

The main timber tree in Alaska, Sitka Spruce produces high-grade lumber for many uses and wood pulp for newsprint. Special products are piano sounding boards, boats, and food containers. It was formerly used in aircraft construction.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Brown
Size Class: 72-100 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: Pacific Coast region from s. AK through w. B.C. to n.w. CA
Native Habitat: Moist to swampy coastal areas
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Moist to wet soils.
Conditions Comments: Susceptible, especially in the Pacific Northwest, to defoliation by red spider and to malformation by spruce gall.

Propagation

Description: Sitka spruce is propagated from seed which is slow to germinate. Cuttings root in low percentages.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary, but seeds may benefit from 1-3 month stratification.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Picea sitchensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Picea sitchensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Picea sitchensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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