White Spruce is a native conifer tree species in the Pine Family. Its native range includes northern Minnesota, south along the St. Croix Valley, and throughout Canada. Its mature height is commonly 40-60 feet, but it can grow up to 120 feet in some places. The White Spruce produces small (3-6 cm), narrow cones. The White Spruce’s needles are short (approximately 1.5 cm), have a white waxy coating, and are quite rigid. Its stiff needles and pyramidal shape make it a popular Christmas tree.
In Mendota Heights, White Spruce make up .2 % of the total Tree Canopy Area (Mendota Heights Natural Resources Management Plan, 2022). Black Hills Spruce, a variety of the White Spruce, is a common urban variety seen in the area. White Spruce is a very cold-hardy tree, and prefers dry, sandy soils and full sun, though they can tolerate some clay soils and part shade. White Spruce can be susceptible to pests such as the Eastern spruce budworm, the yellow-headed spruce sawfly, as well as needle rust and needle cast.