Sitka Spruce — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Picea sitchensis |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–30 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 7.2–18.3 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 730–1825 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 609.6–1219.2 |
| Mature height (cm) | 1828.8–9144 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 457.2–914.4 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 5–8 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | High |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Plant seeds or container-grown trees in spring in moist, slightly acidic, well-drained to moist, deep, fertile to average loamy or sandy soil in full sun; Sitka spruce is the largest spruce in the world and the third largest conifer — reaching up to 300 feet in the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska. The Champion Tree in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is over 300 feet tall. Native to the Pacific Coast fog belt from northern California to Alaska, it grows in the perpetually moist, fog-drip zone where rainfall can reach 200 inches per year. The characteristic very sharp, stiff needles and the flat, pendant branches create a distinctive large-scale landscape form. Sitka spruce wood has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any wood and was the primary material for early aircraft construction — nearly all World War I aircraft frames and Howard Hughes's 'Spruce Goose' were built from it. One of the premier coastal windbreak trees where fog and ocean influence moderate summer drought.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0