Species yezo spruce
tree with gray-brown, thick, rough trunk and gray-brown, rough branches, and green foliage

yezo spruce

Picea jezoensis

The Yezo Spruce (Picea jezoensis) is native to the islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, and Sakhalin in Japan. This evergreen tree has attractive blue-green color needles compare to other kinds of spruce, and its beautiful silhouette can be seen all the year round. It grows slowly and can reach up to 80 feet, making it an ideal specimen tree in both residential and commercial landscaping. It prefers cooler climates and is well-adapted to places with heavy snowfall. It is also resilient to salt, making it an ideal choice coastal environments. Once established, Yezo Spruce will bring color and texture to your landscape for many generations.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Grafting Propagation,Layering Propagation,Seed Propagation,Air Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 7

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Cones:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Yezo Spruce should be watered deeply and regularly. In general, its roots should be kept evenly moist, however not soggy, at all times. For optimal growth and health, Yezo Spruce should be watered weekly, or around once every 7-10 days. During dry or hot weather, it may need to be watered more often. To check for moisture, stick your finger approximately 2 inches into the soil; if the soil is dry, add water until it is moist, but not saturated. Too much water can damage the roots of the plant.

sunlight

The Yezo Spruce (Picea jezoensis), a native species to Japan and the surrounding area, thrives on ample amounts of sunlight. Prefers around 8-10 hours of direct sunlight each day during its growing season, in spring and summer, with some indirect sunlight is also beneficial. During the winter, the Yezo Spruce needs a reduced amount of sunlight, 2-4 hours of indirect sunlight is adequate. It is important to keep in mind that the Yezo Spruce should be shielded from colder northern or eastern winds, especially during the winter months. In order to achieve optimal health, the plant needs to be sheltered or placed in an area where the sunlight is filtered by trees and shrubs. This will help to protect the plant from the frigid temperatures that tend to occur during the winter.

pruning

Yezo Spruce should be pruned in the early spring when the buds begin to swell. It is important to do selective pruning which involves removing dead, diseased, or crowded branches. If the plant was recently transplanted, wait before pruning to let the plant establish. When forming a single leader it is necessary to prune off any competing side branches which might try to overtake the leader. Depending on the growth habit of the tree, yearly pruning can vary. For Yezo Spruce, light to moderate pruning can be performed on a regular schedule, annually or semi-annually. It is best to do the pruning when the tree is dormant in order to limit stress and promote healthy new growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Picea jezoensis typically starts flowering in May.

Hardiness Map