Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Picea engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce) is a species of spruce native to western North America, from central British Columbia and southwest Alberta, southwest to northern California and southeast to Arizona and New Mexico; there are also two isolated populations in northern Mexico. It is mostly a high altitude mountain tree, growing at 900-3650 meter altitude, rarely lower in the northwest of the range; in many areas it reaches the alpine tree line. It is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree growing to 25-40 meter tall, exceptionally to 65 meter tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 meter. The bark is thin and scaly, flaking off in small circular plates 5-10 centimeter across. The crown is narrow conic in young trees, becoming cylindric in older trees. The shoots are buff-brown to orange-brown, usually densely hairy, and with prominent pulvini. The leaves are needle-like, 15-30 millimeter long, rhombic in cross-section, waxy pale blue-green above with several thin lines of stomata, and blue-white below with two broad bands of stomata.

Plant type

Tree

Size

30 - 213 ft Tall

Form

Pyramidal

Growth rate

Slow

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Soil description

Prefers loamy or clay soils. Grows poorly in sandy soils.

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment. (USDA Forest Service 1974).

Site type

Moist places

Plant communities

Red Fir Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

6 confirmed and 19 likely

Confirmed Likely

Acleris bowmanana

White Triangle Tortrix

Clepsis persicana

Larch Pug

Eupithecia annulata

Dyar's Looper Moth

Gabriola dyari