Big Berta White Spruce

Big Berta White Spruce (Picea glauca 'Big Berta')

Big Berta White Spruce (Picea glauca 'Big Berta') is a robust, upright evergreen conifer known for its broad pyramidal shape, dense branching, and rich blue-green needles. A selection of the native White Spruce, this cultivar offers a commanding presence in the landscape while maintaining a uniform, full-bodied form that makes it ideal for specimen use, privacy screens, and windbreaks.

Distinctive Features

'Big Berta' grows with a strong central leader and evenly spaced horizontal branches, forming a wide, symmetrical pyramid over time. The needles are short, stiff, and slightly glaucous, giving the tree a cool-toned appearance that holds year-round. With its full shape and reliable performance, it brings substance and structure to any setting, even in exposed northern sites.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil; tolerant of a variety of soil types including sandy and clay loams
• Water: Moderate; requires regular watering during establishment
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 6

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Broad, uniform form creates a dominant presence in open spaces
• Privacy Screen: Dense branching offers effective year-round coverage
• Windbreak: Strong structure and cold tolerance make it ideal for exposed sites
• Specimen Tree: Suitable for use as a single focal planting in lawns or large beds
• Mixed Evergreen Borders: Provides contrast in color and texture with other conifers

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water regularly during the first few seasons; becomes more drought tolerant with age
• Pruning: Minimal; maintains a natural pyramidal form without shaping
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring if needed
• Mulching: Helps conserve soil moisture and protect shallow roots
• Disease Resistance: Generally pest and disease resistant in well-drained soil

Why Choose Big Berta White Spruce?

• Bold Structure: Offers significant mass and symmetry for visual impact
• Cold Hardy: Thrives in northern climates with strong winter performance
• Versatile Application: Functions equally well as a specimen or in groupings
• Low Maintenance: Requires little intervention once established
• Focal Point: Its substantial size and form make it a striking choice for anchoring large landscapes

Picea glauca 'Big Berta' delivers classic evergreen appeal with a bold presence, offering reliable cold hardiness and structural integrity for landscapes that demand size, performance, and lasting visual weight.