Red Spruce
Picea rubens
Found in spruce-fir forests; northern hardwood forests; mountain balds; rich cove forests; dry forests and woodlands; forests and woodlands. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you
66
Strong
Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- 60–70 feet
- Spread
- 10–18 feet
- Light
- Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Usually moist
Space about 14 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Evergreen
- Bloom
- May to June
- Fruiting season
- October
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Recorded in 14 Virginia counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 6
Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.
Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 142 animals.
- Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- American GoldfinchCarduelis tristis
- American KestrelFalco sparverius
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Common RavenCorvus corax
- Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Purple FinchCarpodacus purpureus
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
- Yellow-rumped WarblerDendroica coronata
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Canada WarblerWilsonia canadensis
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
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Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
120CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · Picea
- Abagrotis alternataGreater Red Dart, Mottled Grey Cutworm
- Acleris varianaEastern Blackheaded Budworm
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Archips dissitanaBoldly-Marked Archips Moth, Spruce Needle Moth
- Argyrotaenia occultanaFall Spruce Needle Moth
- Argyrotaenia pinatubanaPine Tube Moth
- Argyrotaenia tabulanaLodgepole Needletier
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
Show all 120
- Callophrys niphonPine Elfin
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Caripeta angustiorataBrown Pine Looper Moth
- Caripeta divisataGray Spruce Looper Moth
- Celypha nr.Celypha Moth
- Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura fumiferanaSpruce Budworm Moth
- Choristoneura pinusJack Pine Budworm
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Cladara limitariaMottled Gray Carpet, Yellow-Lined Conifer Looper, Yellow-Lined Forest Looper, Black-Angled Wave
- Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
- Dasychira mantoRusty Tussock Moth, Manto Tussock Moth
- Dasychira plagiataNorthern Conifer Tussock Moth
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Dioryctria abietivorellaEvergreen Coneworm Moth, Fir Coneworm
- Dioryctria disclusaWebbing Coneworm
- Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
- Epinotia radicanaRed-Striped Needleworm Moth
- Epirrita autumnataThe Autumnal Moth, November Moth
- Eucopina gloriolaPine Shoot Borer, White-Pine Shoot Borer, Eastern Pine Shoot Borer
- Eucopina tocullionanaWhite Pine Cone Borer
- Eufidonia notatariaPowder Moth
- Eupithecia fletcherataFletcher's Eupithecia
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Eupithecia misturataInsignificant Pug
- Eupithecia palpataSmall Pine Looper, Palpata Pug
- Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Exoteleia pinifoliellaPine Needle Miner
- Feralia comstockiComstock's Sallow
- Feralia jocosaJocose Sallow, The Joker
- Feralia majorMajor Sallow, Pine Sallow
- Gerdana caritellaGerdana Moth
- Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
- Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hydriomena divisariaBlack-Dashed Hydriomena, Transverse-Banded Looper
- Hydriomena renunciataRenounced Hydriomena
- Hypagyrtis piniataPine Measuringworm Moth, Pine Variant
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hypoprepia fucosaPainted Lichen Moth
- Hypsopygia intermedialisRed-Shawled Moth
- Idia aemulaCommon Idia
- Idia americalisAmerican Idia
- Iridopsis vellivolataLarge Purplish Gray
- Korscheltellus gracilisConifer Swift Moth, Graceful Ghost Moth
- Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
- Lithophane tepidaWarm Gray Pinion, White-Eyes Pinion
- Macaria bisignataRed-Headed Inchworm
- Macaria minorataMinor Angle
- Macaria signariaPale-Marked Angle, Spruce-Fir Looper, Dusky Peacock
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
- Nepytia canosariaFalse Hemlock Looper Moth, Evergreen Span Worm
- Nepytia semiclusariaPine Conelet Looper
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Packardia geminataJeweled Tail Slug Moth
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Panthea acronyctoidesBlack Zigzag, Tufted Spruce Caterpillar
- Panthea furcillaEastern Panthea, Tufted Pine Panthea
- Paralobesia palliolanaSpruce Mlcromoth
- Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
- Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
- Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
- Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
- Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
- Scoparia penumbralisDark-Brown Scoparia
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sparganothis tristriataThree-Streaked Sparganothis
- Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
- Sphinx gordiusApple Sphinx
- Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
- Synanthedon piniPitch Mass Borer
- Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
- Syngrapha aliasSpruce Looper, Hooked Silver Y
- Syngrapha rectangulaSalt-and-Pepper Looper Moth
- Taniva albolineanaSpruce Needleminer Moth
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype laricisLarch Tolype, Larch Lappet Moth
- Xestia badicollisWhite Pine Cutworm, Northern Variable Dart, White Pine Dart, Northern Pine Dart
- Xestia dilucidaDull Reddish Dart, Reddish Heath Dart
- Xestia elimataSouthern Variable Dart, Southern Pine Dart
- Xestia praeviaEarly Conifer Dart, Praevia Dart
- Xylotype capaxBroad Sallow, Barrens Xylotype
- Zale minereaColorful Zale
- Zanclognatha cruralisEarly Zanclognatha, Early Fan-Foot
- Zanclognatha protumnusalisConifer Zanclognatha, Complex Fan-Foot
- Zeiraphera improbanaLarch Budmoth, Larch Needleworm
- Acleris hudsoniana
- Apotomops wellingtoniana
- Cydia rana
- Dahlica walshella
- Epinotia septemberana
- Nemapogon variatella
- Xenotemna pallorana
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
6BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Picea
- Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
- Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
- Loxia curvirostraRed Crossbill
- Loxia leucopteraWhite-winged Crossbill
- Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
- Spizelloides arboreaAmerican Tree Sparrow
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 2a–5b
- Soil pH
- Acidic
- Flower color
- Yellow
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Single stem
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- October
- Fruit ends
- October
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “May to June” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Flower color · “Yellow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox, USDA PLANTS differ) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox, USDA PLANTS differ) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Single stem” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 2a–5b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “60–70 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
- Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Spread · “10–18 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as
He Balsam
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | S3S4 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
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Sources
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications