{"product_id":"dwarf-black-spruce-nana","title":"Dwarf Black Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Tiny Blue Nest of Native Black Spruce\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDwarf Black Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea mariana\u003c\/em\u003e 'Nana') is a charming miniature of our native black spruce - a slow, dense, low bun of fine blue-gray needles. Reaching just 1-2 feet over many years, it is an easy, ultra-hardy dwarf that tolerates damp soils and adds soft blue texture to rock gardens, troughs, and the front of beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDwarf Black Spruce Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePicea mariana\u003c\/em\u003e 'Nana'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-2 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-2 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery slow - 1-2 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; tolerates damp soils.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-6 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - fine, dense blue-gray needles in a low bun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -50F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood - deer rarely browse spruce; the stiff needles deter them.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA dwarf selection of black spruce, which is native to Minnesota\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDwarf Black Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRock Gardens \u0026amp; Troughs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts tiny blue bun is ideal for rockeries, troughs, and miniature conifer collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDamp-Site Dwarf\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the few dwarf conifers that tolerates moist ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Dwarf Black Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring through early fall all work, but late August through mid-September is ideal, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes. Water deeply once a week the first season and mulch to hold moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDwarf Black Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRock gardens, troughs, and miniature gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt just 1–2 feet tall and wide, this tidy blue-gray bun is made for rock gardens, alpine troughs, and miniature conifer collections. It pairs beautifully with dwarf sedums and other small evergreens in tight, well-loved spaces in Edina, Plymouth, and Minneapolis gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLow edging and front of border\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse Dwarf Black Spruce as evergreen \"dots\" along a path or the front of a bed, where its slow growth means it stays put and never needs shearing — quiet year-round structure at a small scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDamp and rain-garden spots\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack spruce is a Minnesota bog native, so unlike most evergreens this dwarf actually tolerates moist soils. It's a smart pick for low, damp areas and the higher margins of a rain garden where other conifers would struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContainers and four-season interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts slow growth makes it an excellent container or porch-pot evergreen, holding fine blue-gray color through five months of Minnesota winter at a scale that won't get buried by snow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Dwarf Black Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor evergreens, the ideal window is \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving roots time to establish before the ground freezes. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the second-best option. Avoid summer planting when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground and frost-heaving kill new roots. Container plants can be set out anytime the ground is workable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Dwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, the same depth as the ball.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt tolerates damp ground, but standing water still drowns roots — in a soggy spot, plant slightly high on a low mound.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; for troughs and containers use a gritty, well-draining mix.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — 1–2 feet apart for a low mass or edging; single plants need very little room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a small ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove it before winter to avoid ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch — 2 inches of shredded bark or wood-chip mulch, kept away from the stems. Do NOT use gravel mulch as the primary cover in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate (decorative stone over a low spruce in a trough is fine).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Dwarf Black Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches\/month June–August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive one deep watering in early December if fall was dry — evergreens lose moisture through their needles all winter (container plants especially)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants are easygoing — this one even tolerates damp ground — and only need supplemental water during true droughts. Container plants dry out faster, so check them weekly in summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Dwarf Black Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's one of the hardiest evergreens you can plant — reliable to roughly -50°F (zone 2). A Twin Cities winter is no challenge at all. Container plants benefit from being moved against the house or heeled into a bed for their first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt stays tiny — about 1–2 feet tall and wide — and grows only an inch or two a year, so it won't outgrow a rock garden, trough, or container for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce, making this dwarf a worry-free choice even in high-pressure deer areas like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan it grow in a container or a wet spot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes to both. Its slow growth suits troughs and porch pots, and because black spruce is a bog native it handles damp soil better than almost any other evergreen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Alberta Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a classic dense, cone-shaped dwarf evergreen for pots and small beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tiny flat blue-green bun for rock gardens and troughs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a soft, ball-shaped dwarf arborvitae for low edging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGolden Globe Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a compact gold globe that brightens small foundation plantings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Dwarf Black Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a miniature collector's plant, not a hedger. One plant fills a trough, rock-garden pocket, or container on its own. For evergreen \"dots\" along a path or the front of a bed, space plants 18–24 inches apart (per the 1–2 ft spacing above); a group of 3–5 in a staggered drift reads as a soft blue carpet without ever needing shearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDwarf Black Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e A small flush of fresh blue-gray needles brightens the bun — the year's entire inch or two of growth happens here.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A tidy, fine-textured cushion that shrugs off damp soil where other conifers sulk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply before freeze-up — evergreens keep losing moisture through their needles all winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zone-2 tough (reliable to about -50°F), holding soft blue-gray color at a scale that tucks neatly under the snow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Rain-Garden \/ Wet-Soil   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-alberta-spruce\"\u003eDwarf Alberta Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — the classic green cone as a backdrop to the blue bun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/echiniformis-hedgehog-spruce\"\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a fellow miniature cushion for the rock garden collection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mr-bowling-ball-arborvitae\"\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a soft round globe for textural contrast at the same low scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/hetz-midget-arborvitae\"\u003eHetz Midget Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — another no-shear dwarf globe for path edging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Dwarf Black Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes if you have a full-sun spot — including a damp one — and want an ultra-hardy, deer-proof miniature for a rock garden, trough, or bed edge. It's not a fit if you need size or speed: at 1–2 inches a year and 1–2 feet at maturity, it will never screen, hedge, or fill space — staying tiny is the whole point.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54295929192753,"sku":"GT-E1600","price":50.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/dwarf-black-spruce.jpg?v=1779469308","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/dwarf-black-spruce-nana","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}