Norway Spruce
Picea abies

Seedling Height: 6 to 10 inches (2–0); 12 to 20 inches (3–0)

Mature Size: 80 to 100 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter

Type: Deciduous

Growth Rate: Slow

Form: A medium to large tree with conical form, with horizontal to upward sweeping branches that often droop

Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand, occasionally wet, well drained

Light: Full sun

Foliage: Evergreen needles, stiff, ½ to 1 inch long, 4-angled but somewhat flattened, with a sharp pointed tip, shiny deep green

Blooms: Early to mid spring

Flowers: Males yellow-brown in large groups; females upright, purple.

Fruit: Cones are very large, cylindrical, 4 to 6 inches long, with stiff, thin scales that are irregularly toothed, mature in fall.

Values and Uses: The Norway spruce is a great tree for screen and windbreaks. This tree needs a lot of room to develop. With the thick branches the Norway spruce gives great cover for songbirds. Many Norway spruces’ will be used for Christmas trees.

Did You Know? Rockefeller Center in New York City decorates a Norway spruce during the holiday season.