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Picea mariana

Bog Spruce · Black Spruce · Shortleaf Black Spruce

Family PinaceaeGenus Picea

A stand of narrow spire-shaped spruces with short drooping branches, above a bog floor turned red with low shrubs.
The whole plantLBM1948CC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
30-40 ft9-12 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
8-12 ft2.4-3.7 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Brown/Copper, Gold/Yellow, Purple/Lavender, Red/BurgundyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Alaska, Canada, lower 48 states, St. Pierre and MiquelonPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
2-5Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
4.7-6.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Frequent Standing Water, Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 10 days to germinate.

14% germination in 5–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Picea p. 193Public domain
Show the original text
Picea (Pinaceae). There was a high percentage of empty seed coats. P. mariana germ. 70(14% in 5-10 d) and 40-70(14%). DS for 6 m at 70 or GA-3 also gave 14% germ. at 70, and outdoor treatment also gave 14% germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Picea p. 193. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

14% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Picea p. 193Public domain
Show the original text
Picea (Pinaceae). There was a high percentage of empty seed coats. P. mariana germ. 70(14% in 5-10 d) and 40-70(14%). DS for 6 m at 70 or GA-3 also gave 14% germ. at 70, and outdoor treatment also gave 14% germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Picea p. 193. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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