Approximately. 50 seeds/pkt (280 seeds/gram) This native tree of Canada grows in a wide range of conditions and soil types and can be found from southern Ontario all the way to the tree line in the Arctic. Trees in the wild can reach 25 m (80′) or more and live for hundreds of years. In the landscape, they generally grow to 15-20 m high. White spruce is quite popular for windbreaks and for use in the Christmas tree trade. The wood is used for lumber and in pulp and paper production. Like many evergreens, it provides food and shelter for many birds and mammals. For many native and perennial plants, late fall is the best time to sow seed directly outside. Why you ask? Simply put, many of these plants produce seed that is viable but dormant. This means allowing seeds to naturally stratify over winter will “wake up” the dormant seed for best results. Stratification of tree seed occurs naturally outdoors through the winter. Sowing tree seeds outdoors in the fall takes advantage of this natural effect. Sow 6 mm deep, directly outdoors late fall. To stratify indoors, mix the seed with a moistened, sterile, peat-based growing medium in a container, wrap in a ventilated bag, and place it in a refrigerator for 12 to 20 weeks. In the spring, plant the seed in a sheltered spot outside to grow into seedlings. Another method: Cold stratify the seed in your freezer. Mix seed into a sterile, moistened peatmoss-based potting soil. Cover with lid, or wrap in a plastic bag, and freeze solid for two months. Remove lid/plastic. Place under lights for germination at 21° C. Germination is sporadic over approximately 30 days, but may happen faster and more evenly than expected. Transplant to permanent site when well rooted.
