White Spruce - needles 1/2 to 3/4 inch long; green to bluish-green, short, stiff needles; crushed needles have an unpleasant odor; good needle retention. State tree of South Dakota. Height usually 40' to 60', occasionally 100', with a diameter of 24"; straight trunk; long, stout branches form broad conical head.

The White Spruce is excellent for ornaments; its short, stiff needles are 1/2 - 3/4 in. long and have a blunt tip. They are bluish-green - green in color, but have a bad aroma when needles are crushed.

They have excellent foliage color and have a good, natural shape.

The needle retention is better in a White Spruce than it is among other spruces.

White spruce is a common name for several species of spruce (Picea) and may refer to:

• Picea glauca, native to most of Canada and Alaska with limited populations in the northeastern United States

• Picea engelmannii, native to the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Mountains of the United States and Canada

• Picea pungens, native to the central and southern Rocky Mountains of the United States