Ten Great Coniferous Trees
As promised, here is a list of 10 coniferous trees with great qualities. For the Native Range column, I am using the Hardiness Map found here to give you an idea of where it will grow. For the specific ranges, a quick internet search will give you a more precise location.
|
Tree Name |
Native Range |
Preferred Growing Conditions |
Growth Habits |
| White Spruce (Picea glauca) | 0a – 6a, except Pacific coast | Soil: very tolerant of extreme conditions
Light: shade tolerant |
Height: 25m
Trunk Diameter: 60cm Crown: broad, irregular, dense with height |
| Blue Spruce (Picea mariana) | 0a – 6a (but not on west coast in British Columbia or southern parts of the prairies. | Soil: wet, poorly drained sites and moist organic soils
Light: slightly shade tolerant |
Height: 20-30m
Trunk Diameter: 30-60cm Crown: dense upper crown, lower branches drooping |
| Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) | 6a – 8a (in BC only) | Soil: deep, well-drained sandy loams; prefers moist soil
Light: shade while young; thrives in sunlight later on |
Height: 60m
Trunk Diameter: 200cm Crown: varies with age – short and flat in old trees; narrow, drooping in young trees |
| Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) | 0a – 8a (on west coast only) | Soil: tolerates most soils and can survive in mountainous areas
Light: does well in full light and shade |
Height: 50m
Trunk Diameter: 120cm Crown: open, irregular, some drooping, general cone shape |
| Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) | 0a – 6a (but not in BC or southern parts of Ontario) | Soil: thrives in coarse, shallow sands; will produce short trees on rocky sites
Light: shade intolerant |
Height: 20m
Trunk Diameter: 30cm Crown: open, cone-shaped, arching branches |
| Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) | 1a-6a (from Ontario eastward) | Soil: sandy, infertile soils
Light: shade intolerant |
Height: 25m
Trunk Diameter: 75cm Crown: round, cone-shaped, denser towards top |
| Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) | 0a-6a (central and eastern Canada) | Soil: All soil and drainage conditions
Light: Tolerates shade |
Height: 30m
Trunk Diameter: 70cm Crown: cone-shaped, dense, stays thick near ground |
| Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
|
1a – 6a (central and eastern Canada) | Soil: swampy, limestone rock; will also grow in bogs and in dry soils on limestone
Light: sun and partial shade |
Height: 15 – 25m
Trunk Diameter: 30-90cm Crown: round, thinner at bottom as tree ages |
| Yellow Cedar (Chameacyparis nootkatensis) | 6a – 7b (in BC only) | Soil: moist soils
Light: shade tolerant |
Height: 25m
Trunk Diameter: 90cm Crown: pointed, drooping, flexible branches |
| Pacific Redcedar (Thuja plicata)
Also known as Western Redcedar |
1a – 3b (in BC only) | Soil: moist, loose soils; but will grow well on rich dry soils in bogs
Light: part shade and shade |
Height: 60m
Trunk Diameter: 250cm Crown: tapered, fairly open, drooping branches |
Like last week, these trees are large, slow-growing (for the most part), and require significant space to grow properly. Check back next week for some smaller trees more suitable for urban areas.
