{"product_id":"north-star-spruce","title":"North Star Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Compact, Dense Spruce for Smaller Minnesota Yards\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorth Star Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea glauca\u003c\/em\u003e 'North Star') is a slow, compact selection of the ultra-hardy Black Hills spruce. It builds a tidy, dense pyramid 10-15 feet tall over many years, with short blue-green needles and excellent winter hardiness. Where a full-size spruce would overwhelm, North Star offers the same rugged character on a manageable scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorth Star 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 glauca\u003c\/em\u003e 'North Star'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorth Star Spruce, North Star Black Hills Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-15 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7-10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow - 6-9 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; water deeply through the first two seasons.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-6 (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 - short, dense blue-green needles\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\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, sharp needles deter them.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA compact selection of White Spruce, which is native to northern Minnesota\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorth Star Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSmall-Yard Specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorth Star is a compact, exceptionally dense selection of white spruce that tops out around 10-15 feet - the size of spruce that actually fits a typical Twin Cities lot. Its tight, broad-pyramidal form makes a tidy, formal-looking specimen beside an entry in Edina or at the corner of a house in Woodbury, with none of the sprawl of a full-size spruce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLow Screens and Accents\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant a row 6-8 feet apart for a dense, lower privacy screen that fills in solid from the ground up - ideal for screening a patio or property line on a smaller Minneapolis or St. Paul lot. A single plant also works as a strong evergreen anchor in a mixed bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Native-Lineage Evergreen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a form of white spruce - the species native to northern Minnesota - North Star is bred for our climate and shrugs off cold, wind, and snow load. Its dense growth needs no pruning to look neat, and like all spruce its stiff needles make it dependably deer-resistant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant North Star Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an evergreen, North Star establishes best when planted in late summer to early fall - late August through mid September is the ideal Twin Cities window, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes and reducing winter desiccation. Spring (late April through May, after the ground thaws) is the strong second choice. Avoid midsummer planting, and never plant after mid-October or before the ground thaws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant North Star Spruce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig the hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper - in heavy clay, go wider still and set the top of the root ball slightly above grade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck for clay hardpan: if water pools in the bottom of the hole, break through the compacted layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20-30% compost; avoid creating a pure-compost pocket that traps water around the roots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants 6-8 feet apart for a low screen, or give a single specimen its own 8-10 foot footprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3-4 inch watering basin around the root zone, then flatten it before winter to prevent ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2-3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept a couple of inches back from the trunk. Do not use gravel mulch - it offers no winter insulation in Minnesota.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering North Star Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1-2: water deeply every 1-2 days, soaking the root ball slowly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1-2: water every 3-4 days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3 onward: water every 5-7 days through the growing season, easing off when rainfall is adequate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2-3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro). A single deep soak in early December helps if fall was dry, since evergreens lose moisture all winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEstablished plants need supplemental water only during droughts - two or more weeks with no rain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater deeply and infrequently, soaking to 6-8 inches, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill North Star Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily. It is hardy to roughly -40F (USDA zone 3), and as a white spruce selection native to northern Minnesota it is about as climate-proof as a conifer gets here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt stays compact - about 10-15 feet tall and 7-10 feet wide at maturity, growing slowly. That manageable size is the whole point: spruce density and form without a tree that outgrows a normal yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs North Star Spruce deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Deer rarely browse spruce because the stiff, sharp needles deter them, making it a dependable pick for high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need pruning to stay dense?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. North Star is naturally tight and full from the ground up, so it keeps its neat, formal shape on its own without shearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhite Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - the full native species, a tough, hardy spruce for larger windbreaks and screens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMontrose Charm Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a dwarf white spruce for an even smaller, slow-growing accent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMeyer Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a disease-resistant blue spruce alternative for a touch of blue color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlack Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e - a Minnesota native that thrives in cool, moist, and wet sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many North Star Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a dense, lower privacy screen, plant North Star 6–8 feet on center:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScreen Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants at 6 ft\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants at 8 ft\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e17\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a specimen, give a single plant an 8–10 foot footprint; a staggered group of 3 at 8-foot spacing makes a strong evergreen corner anchor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNorth Star Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft, bright blue-green new growth tips every branch in May — a fresh two-tone effect against the older dark needles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The dense pyramid quietly adds its 6–9 inches for the year, staying tight and formal with zero pruning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Needles hold their blue-green color as the rest of the yard goes bare — the screen and structure become the main event.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Built for it: the compact pyramid carries snow beautifully, shrugs off -40°F, and gives small yards real winter presence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ 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\/white-spruce\"\u003eWhite Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — the full-size native parent species for the windbreak layer behind compact North Stars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/montrose-charm-spruce\"\u003eMontrose Charm Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — an even smaller dwarf white spruce to step the planting down in scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/meyer-spruce\"\u003eMeyer Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a disease-resistant blue-needled spruce for color contrast beside North Star's blue-green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/black-spruce\"\u003eBlack Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — the native bog spruce for the cool, damp corner of the property where North Star wouldn't be happy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs North Star Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's the spruce for full-sun spots where a full-size tree won't fit — entries, house corners, patio screens on standard Twin Cities lots — and its deer resistance makes it dependable in high-pressure suburbs. It tolerates clay-loam as long as water drains. Not a fit if you need fast results: at 6–9 inches a year it rewards patience, so buy the biggest size you can if screening is urgent, or choose a faster arborvitae instead.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#7 Gallon","offer_id":54281913073969,"sku":"GT-E1465","price":196.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#10 Gallon","offer_id":54281913106737,"sku":"GT-E1466","price":356.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/north-star-spruce.jpg?v=1779469308","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/north-star-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}