The spruce is a true staple of our forests, but did you know it’s also a fantastic addition to the backyard? Whether you’re looking for a towering evergreen, a compact potted plant, or even a delicate bonsai, there’s a spruce for you. These trees are famous for their impressive height and longevity, but exactly how big they get and how long they live depends on a few key factors.
Spruce Growth Habits
Under the right conditions, a standard Norway Spruce can reach towering heights of 130 to nearly 200 feet. They are pretty fast growers, too, often putting on about 12 inches of new growth every year. Of course, if you don’t have room for a giant, dwarf spruce varieties are much more manageable, topping out at around six feet. Just keep in mind that these smaller cousins usually don’t live quite as long as the forest giants.
How Old Can a Spruce Get?
In the wild, a healthy spruce can live to be about 600 years old. There’s even a legendary specimen in Central Sweden rumored to be pushing the 1,000-year mark! However, most forest spruces are harvested much earlier for lumber. Because the wood is so versatile, it’s a top choice for making everything from construction materials to beautiful furniture.
Key Factors for a Long, Healthy Life
If you’re planting a spruce in your garden, its lifespan will come down to three main things:
- The specific variety you choose
- The planting site
- How well you maintain it
Choosing Your Variety
Not all spruces are built for the long haul. The common Norway Spruce is the marathon runner of the family, capable of those 600-year lifespans if left undisturbed. On the other hand, dwarf varieties—which are perfect for growing in containers or training as a bonsai—are bred for size rather than centuries of growth, so they naturally have a shorter life expectancy.
Finding the Perfect Spot
To give your tree the best shot at a long life, you need to nail the location. Generally, spruces love a spot that gets full sun to partial shade. They aren’t too picky, but they do prefer soil that stays slightly moist but drains well. If the soil gets too dry and the tree becomes stressed, it becomes a magnet for pests.
Proper Care and Maintenance
The biggest secret to a long-lived spruce? Water! Keeping your tree well-hydrated is the best defense against the dreaded bark beetle. These little pests are a spruce tree’s worst nightmare and are often the primary reason a tree dies prematurely. A little extra attention to watering during dry spells goes a long way in keeping your evergreen healthy for years to come.
