24. Norway Spruce

Pinaceae

Picea abies

Specimen Size: 80.6ft tall, 23.25in in diameter.

Location: North of the brick walkway on the east side closest to the HUB.

Historical Background: The Norway spruce was introduced to the Americas in the 19th century to be used as windbreaks in western prairies and ornamental plants. It is also commonly used in construction and for pulp products. This spruce is one of the most commonly used Christmas trees in the U.K.

Non- Native

Native Range: European Alps

Identifying Features: The adage goes, spikey spruce, and grabbing the needles of this tree will be a perfect example as to why. They are sharply pointed (in contrast to many of the other conifers on this tour) and stiff, making a handshake with a spruce a tricky proposition. Needles are a dark shiny green with many whitish lines, part of a large pyramidal to conical crown of spreading branches. The bark of this tree is very distinctive, forming very roundish grey scales more circular than most other genus’. Cones are likewise different from other conifers seen so far, papery, a light brown, with irregular tooths on the tip and long and cylindrical in shape.

Identifying Features In Depth:

Form: Large and with high apical control, rising from a trunk of up to 2’ (0.6m) in diameter up into a pyramidal to conical crown of spreading (and here with this specimen low hanging) branches. Norway spruce can rise to a height of 80’ (24m).
Leaves: Evergreen and needlelike, growing on short pegs/leafstalks from all sides of the twig in a bottlebrush pattern. Needles are dark shiny green and have whitish stomotal lines. They grow to about 1” (2.5cm) and are 4 sided (which can be felt when rolled between fingers. The tips are very pointy, which combined with their stiffness makes it easy to tell this is a spruce by grabbing it.
Bark: Reddish brown to light grey, scaly in a rounded manner.
Reproductive Bodies: Cones are cylindrical, from 4-6” (10-15cm) and hang down from the tree. Scales are numerous and papery, light brown in color and toothed on the ends. They mature and after a year will open and shed paired winged seeds.

The native range of Procera abies in Europe.

Below is the description found for this species on the original Brockman Memorial Tree Tour:

Historic Tree Tour Information: Somewhat dark and ragged, a mature Norway spruce has and important presence by virtue of its sheer bulk and girth swarthiness, which is relieved in late spring as its fresh young needles flush forth. Spruces are pitchy evergreens, with sharp scratchy foliage, and resinous wood of considerable usefulness. Since they grow in vast northern forests, their economic role is major. Norway spruce might be called the original or common spruce, having a wide natural distribution, and being cultivated extensively for wood and ornament. When young it is lovely, perfectly symmetrical, the ideal Christmas tree. In age it has good wood but looks haggard. The narrow 5-9" long cones dangle.