It is also sold throughout South Dakota for landscape and ornamental planting. Many Black Hills spruce forests have been converted to pines, which have more valuable timber. But the Black Hills spruce is a very popular Christmas tree with people who prefer short needles. Thousands of trees are exported from the Black Hills National Forest and private plantations each December. Black Hills spruces designated as National Christmas trees have even graced the White House lawn.
White spruce is a popular tree in Canada, also.
Manitoba adopted the white spruce, along with a provincial bird, in 1987. Saskatchewan was going to adopt the white spruce, but it backed away after Manitoba chose it. South Dakota and Manitoba also share the same official flower, the pasque flower, or prairie crocus. The black spruce is the official tree of the province of Newfoundland. Many of Canada's provincial symbols were adopted in 1987, Canada's 120 th birthday.