Brewer Spruce
Picea breweriana
- Native to:
- United States
sheriff_woody_pct (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Picea
- Species:
- Picea breweriana
- USDA Symbol:
- PIBR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3700 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Notes:
- Thin-barked species with low fire tolerance; typically found in cool, moist refugia that rarely burn.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, rocky loam
- pH:
- 5.0 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to mountainous regions with high rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for optimal germination. Cool temperatures (around 15-20°C) are preferred.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification during the winter months
Establishment: P. breweriana is found in montane to subalpine forests in the Siksiyou mountains of southwestern Oregon and northern California; at 1000 to 2300 m elevation.
Source: npn.rngr.net