Norway Spruce
Picea abies · Evergreen, Coniferous, Softwood, Broad-spreading (mature)
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Evergreen Conifer, Shade Tree, Windbreak Tree, Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species (Picea abies)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 7. Thrives in cool-summer climates.
About This Tree
A large, fast-growing evergreen conifer known for its distinctive drooping or 'weeping' secondary branchlets. While young trees are strictly pyramidal, mature specimens like the one pictured develop a massive, irregular crown with heavy horizontal sweeping limbs and a dense, dark green canopy.
Leaf Characteristics
Needle-like leaves are 0.5 to 1 inch long, four-angled (easy to roll between fingers), and sharp-pointed. They are a deep, lustrous green and attached to the branch via woody peg-like bases (pulvini).
Bark Characteristics
Bark on young trees is reddish-gray and relatively smooth; with age, it becomes thick, grey-brown, and breaks into small, flaky, rounded scales or plates.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Northern and Central Europe; widely naturalized in North America and adapted to cool, moist climates.
Growing Season
Perennial evergreen; new growth (candles) appears in late spring (May-June). Cones mature in autumn. It remains active year-round but enters a semi-dormant metabolic state in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun preferred; requires moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils. It has moderate water needs and poor tolerance for extreme drought or high heat.
Mature Size
Typically reaches 40-60 feet in urban settings but can exceed 100 feet in the wild. Spread is usually 25-30 feet. This specimen shows great age with a massive trunk diameter likely exceeding 3 feet.
Special Characteristics
Highly tolerant of wind (often used as windbreaks) and moderately tolerant of air pollution. Known for the longest cones of any spruce (4-7 inches). Notable for its long-lived nature, with some clonal specimens in Europe reaching thousands of years old.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical winter thermal cover for large and small mammals. Seeds in cones are a vital food source for crossbills, siskins, and squirrels. The dense branching provides excellent nesting sites for hawks and owls.