Norway Spruce
Picea abies · Evergreen, Coniferous, Softwood
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Conifer, Shade Tree, Windbreak, Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
None specified (species type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; highly cold hardy and adaptable to cool, temperate climates.
About This Tree
A large, fast-growing evergreen with a distinctive pyramidal form. Most notable for its secondary pendulous (drooping) branchlets that hang vertically from horizontal main branches, giving it a weeping appearance at maturity.
Leaf Characteristics
Needle-like foliage, roughly 0.5 to 1 inch long, four-angled (cuboid in cross-section), dark green, attached individually to the branch on small peg-like structures (pulvini).
Bark Characteristics
Grey-brown to reddish-brown; smooth on young trees, becoming flaky with small scales and eventually forming thick, furrowed plates as it reaches maturity.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe; widely naturalized in North America
Growing Season
Year-round evergreen foliage; new growth flush occurs in late spring (bright green); pollen cones shed in May/June
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun; requires moist but well-drained acidic soils; moderate drought tolerance once established but prefers consistent moisture.
Mature Size
Reaches 40-60 feet height and 25-30 feet spread in landscape, up to 100+ feet in the wild; growth rate is fast (2-3 feet per year); lifespan often 150-200 years.
Special Characteristics
Most tolerant spruce of urban conditions; produces the largest cones of any spruce (4-7 inches long); heavy timber value in Europe; excellent for windbreaks and privacy screens.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides critical winter thermal cover for mammals and birds; seeds from large cones are a food source for squirrels, crossbills, and nuthatches; serves as a nesting site for hawks and songbirds.