Whitebark Pine vs Sitka Spruce - TreeTime.ca

Whitebark Pine vs Sitka Spruce

Pinus albicaulis

Picea sitchensis

CUSTOM GROW

Whitebark Pine
Sitka Spruce

Endangered

Whitebark Pine is a beautiful coniferous tree that produces tasty, edible nuts. You'll love this trees' rustic and natural appeal, making it an excellent specimen tree.

It is an endangered species from the Rocky Mountains, this slow grower seldom produces cones until it is 50 years old but regularly survives to be 500 or more years of age. Our staff think it is among the most attractive pines we have grown.

Whitebark Pine is well-known for maintaining snow drifts, providing food and shelter to many species of wildlife, and bringing stability to steep slopes. This high elevation and adaptable tree is deer resistant and can withstand a variety of soils and moisture levels.

Sitka Spruce is a native conifer and the largest spruce species in the world. It grows quickly and reaches impressive heights, often reaching more than 50 metres (164 feet) in suitable conditions. It has strong, durable wood that has long been recognised for its commercial value.

It contributes to soil stability and plays an important role in coastal ecosystems. It offers cover and nesting sites for birds and small animals, and its seeds provide food for wildlife such as songbirds and small mammals.

Sitka Spruce plays a role in reforestation and ecological restoration projects in Coastal BC. It also holds historical significance: the Wright Brothers famously used Sitka Spruce to construct the frames of their first flying machines.

Whitebark Pine Quick Facts

Sitka Spruce Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $4.49 - SAVE UP TO 55%
Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Height: 61 m (200 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 11 m (35 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: long
Growth form: upright, conical
Spreading: seeds - low, layering - low
Suckering: none


Bark: thin, flaky, gray-brown to gray-purple
Cones: Reddish-brown, papery cones
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC
Native to: BC
Other Names: coast spruce, tideland spruce