Mountain Spruce (Picea engelmannii)

Family: Pinaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Picea engelmannii is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen in September. 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.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Flowers, Bark/Inner Bark

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavouring. — Young male catkins - raw or cooked.; Used as a flavouring.; Immature female cones - cooked.; The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and syrupy.

Habitat & North American Range

Montane regions to the tree-line, especially by swamps. Often found on poor thin rocky soils, though the best specimens are growing in deep well-drained clay-loam soils. (Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7)