Picea abies
(Norway Spruce)

Family - Pinaceae
Category - Conifer, Tree
Origin - Europe
Year of Introduction - Introduced to Britain around 1500
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Hardiness - H7
Height - 20m or more
Width - 6m or more
Location - The Woodland Walk

Description: Large Evergreen conifer with an upright habit and orange-brown bark. Young trees have a conical habit, but ultimately mature to a more columnar form. Short, glossy, dark green needles are four-sided and arranged spirally along the stems. Monoecious. The female cones hang below the branches and are reddish-purple when young, maturing to light brown cones that are approximately 15cm in length. Male cones are brown and much smaller. Picea abies is quite commonly used for Christmas trees.

Additional common names include - Common Spruce, Christmas Tree

Foliage:

Glossy, dark green needles are approximately two to three centimetres in length with four sides and are spirally arranged along the orange-brown stems.

Foliage Senescence: Evergreen

Foliage Shape: Needle

Propagation:

Cuttings, grafting, seed.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun to partial shade in rich, moisture retentive soil that is well drained. Will perform best in a soil that is neutral to acidic.