Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce
Picea glauca
Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce (Picea glauca) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 25 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 20 ft wide, slow-growing, needs medium to high water, and prefers full sun to partial shade.
medium to high water25 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 20 ft wide
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
- Photo 2: (c) Heather Mazzaccaro, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 2 to 6
- Water needs
- medium to high water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.2
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Tolerates
- Cool north foundations
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 25 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 20 ft wide
- Mature form
- Pyramidal
- Spacing / clearance
- ~20 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Ignitable (CSU): keep 30+ ft from the house, thinned
Common problems on the Front Range
- Spruce ips beetle in stressed trees
- Spruce spider mite on hot, dry sites
- Cytospora canker on lower branches
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce get?
- It matures to about 25 to 40 ft tall and 15 to 20 ft wide.
- How much room does Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce need?
- Give Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce about 20 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce grow into?
- Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce typically grows into a pyramidal, conical outline that is widest at the base. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce hardy on the Front Range?
- Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce is hardy in USDA 2 to 6. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce need?
- It needs medium to high water once established.
- How fast does Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce grow?
- Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce live?
- Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce is long-lived, a multi-generational tree given good siting and care. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce a good firewise plant near the house?
- Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce is listed by CSU Extension among the more ignitable plants, so keep it 30 or more feet from the house and keep it thinned and well maintained. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Is Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Black Hills 'Densata' Spruce can be affected by spruce ips beetle in stressed trees and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
