What soil does Norway spruce grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, acidic.

Is Norway spruce hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Norway spruce be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

How much water does Norway spruce need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Norway spruce cost?

It sells for roughly €3.70 to €280 in local shops, depending on size.

Norway spruce

Picea abies

Norway spruce (Picea abies) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about €3.70.

Illustration of Norway spruce — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

The species is a fast-growing, dark green, conical spruce with long hanging cones that can reach 25 to 35 metres tall and 8 to 10 metres wide in time, so it is not a tree for a small garden. Nurseries mostly offer its slow dwarf forms (such as the nest-shaped Nidiformis, the cushion-like Little Gem or the dense Ohlendorffii), which suit rock gardens, border edges and containers, and it is also sold as a rooted Christmas tree. It likes moist, rather acidic, well-drained soil and a cooler, more humid spot and copes badly with dry heat, so it needs watering in summer; the needles are pointed, but it has no thorns.

Watch out for

In the lowlands and hills of Central Europe Norway spruces are dying in large numbers after the hot, dry summers of recent years, in gardens and parks too: the shallow-rooted, drought-weakened tree is attacked by the spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus), which cuts off the flow of water and nutrients under the bark, and an infested tree cannot be saved and should be felled quickly. In dry, warm spots spider mites and the green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum) also cause needle drop, adelgids distort the new shoots, and weakened trees get needle cast, canker and root and butt rot (Heterobasidion). Do not plant the full-size species on dry, poor soil, in city gardens or on the plains, and remember that a planted-out rooted Christmas tree becomes the same large, demanding tree. The dwarf forms need moist soil and summer watering just the same, but being small they are easier to water and mulch.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3.5 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3.5 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	12–35 m × 7.5–10 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €3.70

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
40-60 cm	approx. €8.40
80-100 cm	approx. €3.70
200 cm	approx. €230
size not stated	approx. €17 – €280

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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