picea abies - norway spruce

This tree grows up to 80 feet tall, and is 2 feet in diameter.  This is a large tree with a straight trunk and a pyramid shape crown of spreading branches.  It has evergreen needles that are 1/2" to 1" long.  The needles are stiff, 4-angled, sharp pointed, and spreading on all sides of the twig from very short leafstalks.  The needles are shiny dark green with whitish lines.  The bark is reddish-brown and scaly.  The tree has drooping limbs that point up at the tip.  The cones are 4 to 6 inches long, cylindrical, light brown, and hanging down.   The cone scales are numerous , thin, slightly pointed, opening and shedding a year after maturing.

This tree has been widely cultivated for ornament, shade, shelterbelts, and Christmas trees.  The showy cones are the largest of the spruces.  It is the common spruce of northern Europe.

This tree is found in moist soils in humid, cool, and temperate regions.