Picea glauca densata #3 (Black Hills Spruce)

Black Hills Spruce is a very dense, conical evergreen that is native to the northern US and Canada. It is fairly adaptable to most soil types, extremely cold tolerant, and makes a good choice for windbreaks, hedges, massing or as a specimen. It is a tough spruce that handles the clay and conditions of the Midwest, making it an alternative to non-native Norway Spruce and Colorado Blue Spruces which are susceptible to many diseases and on the decline in this region.

There is conflicting information about the salt tolerance of this plant, with the USDA listing it as a medium tolerance and Dirr concurring, while many other sources say it is sensitive to it. Take this into consideration when siting the plant near roadways. Since it is slow-growing and because Ohio is outside of its native range, the heat of summer may add stress. The root system is shallow and fibrous and appreciates staying cool and moist throughout the year.

Black Hills Spruce is named after the Black Hills in South Dakota, where the national champion is 103′ tall. In Ohio, it’ll top out at 40′ in 40 years time. The dense foliage provides excellent winter shelter and nesting sites for wildlife, and the seeds are eaten by many birds through the fall and winter months.

Sources:
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
University of Minnesota

Photo Credits:
Cones: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E. et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension and Western Area Power Admin., Bismarck, ND., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons