Best 7 Spruce Trees To Grow In Illinois
Spruces are common in Illinois, but they’re not as common as one might think. The most widespread species is the Norway Spruce, which is also found in northern Canada.
This tree is highly valued for its wood, which is used to make musical instruments and pulp. While it does well in well-drained soil, it can also tolerate less-than-optimal conditions, such as drought.
Its seed cones are the longest of any spruce in Illinois, while the others are much shorter. Although the foliage of both species is similar, spruces are more attractive than pines.
There are eight native species of spruce in Illinois, with most of them confined to the state’s most southern or northern parts.
In addition to white pine, white spruce, and jack pine, Illinois spruce also includes the bald cypress, which stands out in winter.
Other conifers found in the state include the tamarack and the jack pine. This list is far from complete, though.
Several spruce species are native to the Rocky Mountains, including the Colorado blue spruce. Its range is limited to the northern portion of the state, but it’s a popular choice for Christmas trees.
This tree is often dug up and planted as a living Christmas tree. The needles of these trees are stiff and long-stemmed, ranging from blue to silvery green.
They are sharp-pointed and extend at right angles from the branches of a stout twig. It has the greatest needle retention of any spruce.
The most common spruce species in the state is the Colorado blue spruce. It is native to the Rocky Mountains and is only native to northern Illinois, where it grows naturally.
It is a popular Christmas tree, and is often dug and planted as a living Christmas tree. Because of its large needles, it is a great choice for a live Christmas tree. Its distinctive twigs are an excellent way to attract hummingbirds and other wildlife to your yard.
Black Hills Spruce Tree
It’s a superior spruce tree that’s popular for its dense, pyramidal shape, making it a favorite for its thick, uniform shape and amazing ornamental growth.
Like the White Spruce, the Black Hills flourish despite poor soil and bad weather.
Black Hills Spruce is actually the most tolerant of adverse conditions.
Although any spruce can survive a rough winter, this tree can withstand unusually hot summers better than other varieties.
It can grow in dry or wet soils. The Black Hills Spruce is tolerant of droughts and rain exceeding 10 inches per year.
It also has an exceptionally long lifespan. Often living over 80 years and reaching heights of 60 feet, this majestic tree will stand out in any landscape. Your yard will be distinguished by the dense, dark-green needles and full, thick branches of the Black Hills.
Weeping Norway Spruce Tree
The stunning Weeping Norway Spruce Tree will be the centerpiece of your landscape, making an undeniable statement.
There are several characteristics that distinguish Weeping Norway Spruce from other Norway Spruce species. First, they trail outwards and are covered with dense, lush needles.
It is similar to a fountain when the branches are left alone, hanging down vertically.
This spruce looks beautiful all year long, with shaggy, rustic bark that adds to its appeal.
As an evergreen accent tree, it is best used as a dramatic specimen. It is possible to train the Weeping Spruce to grow along fences and walls, or it can be allowed to grow naturally to provide a more organic, sprawling look. When planted against other plants, the Weeping Spruce creates a spectacular contrast.
Weeping Norway Spruce thrives in colder regions and is highly adaptable, adapting easily to almost any soil type in a sunny location, and thrives in colder regions. As a result, it can be planted among rocks and gravel, and it is disease- and pest-resistant as well.
Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce
The Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce Tree will create an enchanting backdrop in your garden.
It is an evergreen conifer with rich blue needles and a naturally pyramidal shape, making it an excellent choice for a living Christmas tree.
This plant provides an excellent contrast for trees and bushes with greener foliage in garden beds and landscapes, due to its bold blue color.
Fat Albert is a variety of Colorado Blue Spruce, which thrives in zones 2-8, and is a popular tree in colder climates.
It grows upright, with full branches radiating horizontally from the ground for a striking appearance. Silver-blue needles color the tree’s branches, making it stand out against the lawn or garden.
As this Spruce grows slowly, you’ll create a strong landscape statement without being overwhelmed by its size. In 10 years.
Fat Albert Colorado Spruce will reach 15-20 feet tall and wide, and will eventually reach 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Adding it to a garden of low-growing plants or dwarf conifers will add height and fill bare corners.
Bruns Serbian Spruce
The Bruns Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika ‘Bruns’) is a tall and slender tree, so it can be planted in almost any location in your garden!
The plant has a pyramidal growth habit that is ideal for windbreaks or city gardens since it has a pyramidal growth habit.
You can also plant them in close proximity to one another to provide a privacy screen all year long or as accent trees in the corners of your garden to provide a touch of elegance.
The Bruns Serbian Spruce is considered to be one of the hardiest trees on earth and is able to thrive in colder climates.
Having an evergreen plant that doesn’t require much maintenance and thrives in a well-drained soil, especially once it has been established, will give you a lot of enjoyment for many years.
Generally speaking, the foliage color and form of this plant are best when grown in full sun and well-drained soil, but it can also handle some shade.
The skinny frames of these trees make them ideal for smaller gardens. By decreasing the width of them, they still make the garden different in terms of height, while still taking up less space.
If you want to avoid the garden completely, you can plant a pair of them on either side of a doorway or driveway instead!
Weeping Norway Spruce
Are you looking for an evergreen plant with a lush, deep green color and an eye-catching trailing growth habit all through the year?
With Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula’), you will add a very handsome focal point to your landscape.
You can choose one or several to achieve the look you were aiming for.
Norwegian Spruce is a plant that always stands out, and this classic weeping form is the perfect choice for a planting that needs to draw attention.
This beautiful tree has been trained by our evergreen experts on a main trunk that extends 4-5 feet from the ground. If you wish to make the tree look more vertically oriented, stake it.
As it grows, you can bring out your inner sculptor and begin to shape it according to your preferences. You can encourage the dark green, trailing branches to grow and enlarge into your perfect vision.
In fact, you can easily grow it to a tall, narrow plant. It is also possible to remove the stake and let it become a magnificent ground cover that is not liked by deer.
Blue Wonder Spruce Tree
The Blue Wonder Spruce changes the evergreen game with its eye-catching, bluish gray foliage that lasts all year.
Its distinctive hue stands out in the landscape and complements other plants like no other, creating a rich variation that sets your home apart.
Moreover, since it only grows to about 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, it can be planted nearly anywhere.
It can be used as a privacy screen or hedgerow in areas where space is limited, and it also looks great standing alone or as an accent piece.
Blue Wonder delivers unmatched color that’s unlike any other variety, no matter where you plant it.
Containers thrive with Blue Wonder. You can use your Blue Wonder Spruce Trees to frame your entryways or add color to your deck and patio.
Due to its cone-like shape, the Blue Wonder rarely needs pruning. It is because of this reason that many people wrap strings of lights around their Blue Wonder Spruces during the holiday season.
