Abies concolor - Gray spruce

The evergreen gray pitch comes from the mountain areas of the western parts of North America at an altitude of approx. 1000-3000 meters above sea level. In its natural range, the tree can grow approx. 60 meters tall, in Finland approx. 20 meters tall. Under favorable conditions, the tree can live up to 300 years. The tree grows conically. Branches often grow horizontally. The bark of the tree is grey-brown, smooth when young, furrowed when older. Its needles, about 2-6 cm long, are the longest in the genus. The flat needles are blue-gray on top and light on the bottom. The color is due to the anti-evaporation resin covering both surfaces of the needles. Thanks to that, the wood belongs to the most drought-resistant species. For this reason, it also does not have a great need to grow protected by other trees, even when young.

The wind-pollinated flowering of gray pine usually starts when the tree is over 10 years old and is timed in early summer. The tree is monoecious. Pollinated cones ripen in the fall of the same year. Green when young, brown when mature, upright growing cones are approx. 7-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide.

Gray spruce thrives in a sunny place, tolerates some shading. Tolerates drought, but thrives best in moist and permeable soils. Does not thrive in a location prone to standing water. Thrives in medium-rich soil, but does not thrive in heavy clay soil.

• Success zone: I-III
• USDA: 3-7
• Sunny-semi-shady
• PH recommendation: 5–7.5

Blue-green, long, curved needles. It thrives in nutrient-rich soil and needs a bright place. In Finland, it grows 10–20 meters high and does best in zones I- III .
Succeeds in open and toasty growing places better than other species.
Height: approx. 10-20m