Sitka Spruce

Picea sitchensis

Physical Characteristics

Picea sitchensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 50 m (164ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It cannot tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Distribution

Western N. America - Alaska to N. California.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Inner bark Seed Seedpod Shoots Edible Uses: Condiment Gum Tea Young shoots - raw[118, 256]. Young male catkins - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring[172]. Immature female cones - cooked. The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and syrupy[172]. The cones are 6 - 10cm long[82]. Inner bark - raw or cooked[256]. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[172]. The inner bark was usually harvested in the spring, though it was also sometimes taken in the summer[256]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails. Seed - raw[172]. The seed is about 2 - 4mm long[229]. It is rich in fats and has a pleasant slightly resinous flavour but is too small and fiddly to be worthwhile unless you are desperate[172, K]. A refreshing tea, rich in vitamin C, can be made from the young shoot tips[172]. A gum obtained from the bark is hardened in cold water and then used for chewing[118, 177, 256]. It should be aged for 3 days or more before using it. The best gum is obtained from the southern side of the tree.

Medicinal Uses

Analgesic Antirheumatic Antiseptic Diuretic Laxative Ophthalmic Pectoral Poultice Salve Stomachic TB Vitamin C Sitka spruce was widely employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it especially for its antiseptic and pectoral qualities in the treatment of lung complaints, wounds, sores etc[257]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The inner bark is laxative[256, 257]. It has been chewed in the treatment of throat problems, coughs and colds[257]. A decoction of the branch tips and the bark has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, stomach pains, constipation and gonorrhoea[257]. A decoction of the cones has been taken in the treatment of pain[257]. The cones have also been used in steam baths to treat rheumatism[257]. A decoction of the bark has been used as a steam bath in the treatment of back aches[257]. The resin is antiseptic and diuretic[257]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[257]. A poultice of the resin has been used as a rub on rheumatic joints[257]. Combined with Indian Hellebore roots (Veratrum viride), it has been used as a poultice on rheumatic joints[257]. The resin has also been used as a dressing or poultice on cuts, broken skin, boils, wounds, infections and suppurating sores[257]. The resin has been chewed as a breath freshener and as a treatment for TB[257]. The gum from new shoots and small branches has been placed in the eyes as a treatment for snow blindness[257]. A decoction of the roots has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[257].

Known Hazards

None known