Engelmann Spruce
Picea engelmannii
Engelmann spruce is the tall, spire-like spruce of high western mountains, forming dark subalpine forests near treeline. Cold-loving and best in cool, moist climates at elevation. Like other spruces, young catkins, immature cones, and inner bark have all served as food, and the shoot tips brew into a vitamin C-rich tea.
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 70–100 ft
- Spacing
- 10–15 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- moist, wet
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- April, May
- Bloom colors
- yellow
- Wildlife value
- songbirds, mammals, larval host
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~150 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, rain garden
- Native states
- AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Related native plants
More Picea species
- Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
- Red Spruce (Picea rubens)
- White Spruce (Picea glauca)
- Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)