{"product_id":"wellspire-black-spruce","title":"Wellspire Black Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Narrow, Columnar Native-Type Black Spruce\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWellspire Black Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea mariana\u003c\/em\u003e 'Wellspire') is a refined, narrowly columnar selection of our native black spruce, with short blue-green needles on a tight, upright frame. Reaching roughly 12-18 feet tall but only a few feet wide, it brings native toughness - including tolerance for damp soils - to a slim, formal shape that fits smaller yards and tight spots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWellspire 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 'Wellspire'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWellspire Black Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12-18 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 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; 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 - short, dense blue-green needles on a narrow column\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 columnar 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\u003eWellspire Black Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Native Accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slim, hardy column for tight spaces, screens, and damp spots where width is limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFormal Vertical\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse single or in a row for upright structure in mixed evergreen beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Wellspire 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\u003eWellspire Black Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow vertical accent and screen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWellspire is a tight, columnar form just 3–5 feet wide — a slim evergreen exclamation point for tight spots, or planted 4–5 feet apart for a narrow privacy column along a fence line. Ideal for the compact lots of Edina, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNative and wildlife plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack spruce is native to Minnesota's northern bogs and forests, so Wellspire fits naturally into native and wildlife gardens, providing year-round cover and seeds for birds. A great choice for homeowners leaning into native landscaping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDamp and rain-garden spots\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a bog native, black spruce tolerates moist soils far better than most evergreens, making Wellspire a smart vertical accent for low, damp areas and rain-garden margins where other conifers would sulk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season winter interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe short, dense blue-green needles hold their color and narrow form through five months of Minnesota winter, giving the landscape reliable vertical structure year-round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Wellspire 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 and before winter wind can dry the needles. \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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Wellspire 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. Heavy clay benefits from an even wider hole.\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; don't create a pure-compost \"container\" the roots won't leave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — 4–5 feet apart for a narrow screen; 6+ feet for individual accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a 3–4 inch 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 — 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood-chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Wellspire 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 (15–25 minutes)\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\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 (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently, and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Wellspire Black Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's one of the hardiest evergreens available — reliable to roughly -50°F (zone 2). A Twin Cities winter is no challenge whatsoever.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it native to Minnesota?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — Wellspire is a narrow, columnar selection of black spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea mariana\u003c\/em\u003e), which is native to Minnesota's bogs and northern forests. You get a tidy garden form of a true native species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce — the stiff needles are unpalatable — making Wellspire dependable even in high-pressure deer suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it tolerate wet soil?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetter than most evergreens. As a bog native it handles damp ground well, though it still appreciates not sitting in standing water — mound-plant in the soggiest spots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlack Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — the full native species, a hardy bog spruce for naturalized and wet areas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tiny blue-gray bun of the same native species for rock gardens and troughs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlue Totem Colorado Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow columnar blue spruce for tight, vertical spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBruns Weeping Serbian Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a dramatic narrow weeping evergreen accent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Wellspire Black Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a narrow evergreen screen, space Wellspire 4–5 feet on center — the columns knit into a slim living wall without crowding:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eScreen Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (4–5 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–7 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–10 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a single vertical accent, give it 6+ feet from structures; a trio staggered 5–6 feet apart makes a handsome native grouping at a corner or rain-garden edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWellspire Black Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft new growth tips the dense column in late May, brightening the blue-green needles just as the garden wakes up.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The tight spire adds a steady 6–9 inches, staying crisp and formal with zero pruning — even in damp ground that bothers other conifers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Short blue-green needles hold firm while small purple-brown cones decorate older branches; the column anchors fading perennial beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Built for it — hardy to -50°F, the slim spire shrugs off snow load and gives the yard unwavering vertical structure all five months.\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\/black-spruce\"\u003eBlack Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — the full native species for naturalized backdrops behind the tidy column.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-black-spruce-nana\"\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — the same native species as a tiny bun for the front of the bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-totem-colorado-spruce\"\u003eBlue Totem Colorado Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a steel-blue column to alternate with for two-tone vertical rhythm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bruns-weeping-serbian-spruce\"\u003eBruns Weeping Serbian Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a weeping narrow evergreen that plays curves against Wellspire's straight line.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Wellspire Black Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it if you need a slim, no-prune evergreen column for a sunny spot — especially a damp one, where its bog-native genes outperform nearly every other conifer — and you want native status, deer resistance, and zone-2 hardiness in the bargain. It's not a fit if you need fast privacy: at 6–9 inches a year it builds its screen patiently, so buy bigger plants or pick a faster arborvitae if you need coverage now.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#15 Gallon","offer_id":54295928799537,"sku":"GT-E1585","price":233.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#20 \/ 4'","offer_id":54295928832305,"sku":"GT-E1593","price":370.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5' B\u0026B","offer_id":54295928865073,"sku":"GT-E1594","price":439.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/wellspire-black-spruce.jpg?v=1779469307","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/wellspire-black-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}