Red Spruce
Picea rubens
Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Picea
- Species:
- Picea rubens
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr
- Bloom Colors:
- Red, Yellow
Native Range
United States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Black zigzag (Panthea acronyctoides), black-dashed hydriomena moth (Hydriomena divisaria), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Coleotechnites ducharmei, common idia (Idia aemula), Conifer swift (Korscheltellus gracilis), Eastern blackheaded budworm (Acleris variana), Eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), Endothenia albolineana, Eupithecia albicapitata, Eupithecia annulata, Eupithecia fletcherata, European spruce needleminer (Epinotia nanana), False hemlock looper (Nepytia canosaria), gray spruce looper (Caripeta divisata), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Larch Pug (Eupithecia lariciata), Porcelain Gray (Protoboarmia porcelaria), Red-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia velutinana), spruce needleminer (Coleotechnites piceaella), Syngrapha rectangula, Variable Climbing Cutworm (Xestia elimata), variegated midget (Elaphria versicolor), 🛑Bog Elfin (Incisalia lanoraieensis)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, acidic loam
- pH:
- 4.0 - 5.5 (strongly acidic to moderately acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers cool, humid environments
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Notes: Seeds require light for germination; do not cover.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o