Norway spruce

The Norway or European spruce (Picea abies) is a tall, straight, fast-growing evergreen conifer that’s triangular in appearance and common in the British Isles, having been planted for forestry since the 1800s.

Part of the spruce (Picea) family, it’s native to much of Europe and is closely related to the Siberian spruce – which some botanists even class as a sub-species.

Norway spruce can live for 1,000 years and typically grow to a height of around 40m, although some can grow up to 50% more. They’re identifiable by their:

- Pointed square-shaped needles (leaves) with white speckled lines and a sweet odour

- Long, hanging cones (fruit) with jagged tips

- Red flowers that are oval and upright (female) or in stamen clusters that turn yellow with pollen (male)

- Branchlets that typically hang downwards

- Grey-brown or purple-brown bark that appears smooth but has rough scales

These trees support a range of wildlife including beetles, various moth caterpillars and even red squirrels that love to feast on the cones.

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Norway spruce has the largest cones of any, measuring 9-17cm in length. Hanging cones (fruit) with jagged tips are a feature of spruce more generally.

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Siberian spruce (Picea obovate) is closely related to Norway spruce and the two hybridise very easily.

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We’re all extremely familiar with the most well-known use of Norway spruce as Christmas trees.

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The tallest recorded Norway spruce is in Ribnica na Pohorju, Slovenia, measuring over 62 metres in height.

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Spruce cones are slimmer and less woody than classic pine cones, making them easily distinguishable.

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