Spruces
Botanical name: Picea
Spruces
Botanical name: Picea
Description
Spruces are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of spruces, making them tremendously ecologically important.
Species of Spruces
Qinghai spruce
Qinghai spruce are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of qinghai spruce, making them tremendously ecologically important.
Meyer's spruce
Meyer's spruce are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of meyer's spruce, making them tremendously ecologically important.
Korean spruce
Korean spruce are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of korean spruce, making them tremendously ecologically important.
Taiwan spruce
Picea morrisonicola, the Taiwan spruce, is a species of conifer in the family Pinaceae. It is found only in China. It is the southernmost species of spruce genus in the world, being spread near the Tropic of Cancer, and, subsequently, is only thought to be hardy to USDA Zone 8. Taiwan spruce is a large tree, up to 50 m (160 ft) in height and 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in diameter. It grows at altitudes of about 2,000–2,500 m (6,600–8,200 ft) in the Central Mountain Range in ravines and mountain slopes, usually mixed with other trees. Taiwan spruce is one of the most important timber species in China. Populations have declined because of overexploitation.
Blue spruce 'Iseli Fastigiata'
Blue spruce 'Iseli Fastigiata' are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of blue spruce 'Iseli Fastigiata', making them tremendously ecologically important.
Serbian spruce 'Aurea'
The serbian spruce 'Aurea' is a cultivar in the pine family and is a variety of spruce trees. Its needles are blue, green, and gold, making it unique from other pine trees. It is also known as the Golden Serbian Spruce, likely due to its golden needles. Aurea is also Latin for gold.
Norway spruce 'Nidiformis'
Norway spruce 'Nidiformis' is a slow-growing, dwarf cultivar of Norway spruce that offers light-green short needles. The branches spread horizontally in dense layers. This is cultivar is also often called the "Bird’s Nest Spruce," as it usually sports a deep depression in the middle of its flat top. Gardeners enjoy this cultivar for its deer resistance and general hardiness.
Norway spruce 'Tompa'
Norway spruce 'Tompa' are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of norway spruce 'Tompa', making them tremendously ecologically important.
Serbian spruce 'Pendula Bruns'
Serbian spruce 'Pendula Bruns' is a Serbian spruce hybrid, so-called because of its weeping, pendulous branches. This unique tree was cultivated in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany in 1955, at the Bruns nursery. This tree has a very narrow growth pattern, in marked contrast to the upright, wide-spreading branches of its parent tree.
Wilson's spruce
Wilsons fichte grows as an evergreen tree, which can reach heights of growth of up to 50 meters and breast height diameter of up to 1.3 meters. The crown is pyramidal. The gray stem bark flakes off in irregularly shaped pieces.
Norway spruce 'Pumila'
Norway spruce 'Pumila' is a dwarf, slow-growing Norway spruce cultivar that has a flat-topped, cushion shape. It offers outward-spread branches that are covered with bright green needles. Gardeners favor it for its resistance to browsing and its compact size - it only reaches 1.2 m tall at maturity.
Sitka spruce
The sitka spruce (*Picea sitchensis*) is the fifth-tallest conifer in the world and can grow to be 70 m tall. Sitka spruce is found in cool, maritime locations in coastal areas. This species grows best in deep, moist, well-drained soil. It produces reddish to yellowish-brown seed cones. Its light, soft wood is strong and flexible, with acoustic qualities. This tree's wood is commercially used to make musical instruments such as guitars and pianos. It is also used to make early aircraft and boats.
Norway spruce
The fastest-growing of all spruces, the norway spruce (Picea abies) makes for a good roosting spot for owls and hawks. Its wood is used for paper, construction lumber, and musical instruments, and its needles can be used to brew spruce beer. It is also a popular choice for Christmas trees.
Black spruce 'Nana'
Black spruce 'Nana' are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of black spruce 'Nana', making them tremendously ecologically important.
Norway spruce 'Little Gem'
Norway spruce 'Little Gem' is a dwarf, slow-growing, Norway spruce cultivar offering a flat-topped globe shape. It is covered in deeply-colored evergreen needles and is quite small in size - thus the "little gem" title. Gardeners like this diminutive plant because it is easy to grow, tolerant of air pollution, and easy to care for.
Blue spruce 'Globosa'
Blue spruce 'Globosa' is a dwarf Colorado blue spruce that offers sickle-shaped needles in a stunning silvery-blue color. It is a cultivar of the Picea pungens species and is named for its globose or spreading habit. Gardeners love this plant for its bright blue needles that show off their color all year round. Plant it as a focal point in your garden.
Norway spruce 'Inversa'
Norway spruce 'Inversa' is a Norway spruce cultivar with a lovely weeping habit. The branches are covered with dense, bright green needles. The cultivar is also called often called "Pendula" for its hanging or drooping branches. Gardeners find this plant easy to grow and easy to care for, and it requires little to no pruning.
Oriental spruce 'Aurea'
A winner of the Award of Garden Merit, oriental spruce 'Aurea''s distinctive yellow needles are what make this cultivar unique among spruces. Cultivated from the Caucasian spruce, this variant was suitably named after the Latin word for "golden," due to its golden color in the spring. Oriental spruce 'Aurea' is loved for its unique appearance, ease of care, and resistance to dangers.
Orange spruce
Orange spruce (Picea asperata) is a tall conifer that is highly variable and has five subspecies. This tree has commercially useful wood that is used in the manufacture of furniture, buildings and railway sleepers. This usefulness is also a problem since the tree's numbers are declining due to overlogging in its native China.
Norway spruce 'Acrocona'
Norway spruce 'Acrocona' is a captivating conifer that stands out with its unique characteristics. This evergreen tree is renowned for its striking display of red cones, which add a pop of vibrant color to the landscape. Its garden usage extends beyond ornamental value, as it also serves as a valuable timber tree. Embrace the beauty and resilience of this exceptional conifer in your outdoor space.
Blue spruce 'Bialobok'
As a slow-growing cultivar of the Blue Spruce, the blue spruce 'Bialobok' is comparatively compact, growing up to five feet high after ten years. Named after horticulturist Jen Bialobok, who discovered this cultivar, the blue spruce 'Bialobok' is favored in landscaping for the unique appearance of its green pine needles that age into a silvery blue. In addition, gardeners may keep this cultivar because it is both easy to care for and frost-resistant.
Blue spruce 'The Blues'
Blue spruce 'The Blues' is a small weeping spruce known for its rambling habit, drooping branches, and stunning bright silver-blue needles. It is a cultivar of Blue spruce and is named for the color of the needles. This award-winning conifer is prized by gardeners for its dramatic colors, fast-growing habit, and winter hardiness.
Norway spruce 'Pusch'
Norway spruce 'Pusch' are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of norway spruce 'Pusch', making them tremendously ecologically important.
Serbian spruce
It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 20 m tall, exceptionally 40 m, with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. The shoots are buff-brown, and densely pubescent (hairy). The leaves are needle-like, 1 to 2 cm long, flattened in cross-section, dark blue-green above, and blue-white below.
Black spruce
Other names for black spruce (Picea mariana) include bog spruce, shortleaf black spruce, and swamp spruce. And just like you’d guess from the name, it loves soggy habitats. It also happens to be the provincial tree of Newfoundland.
White spruce
White spruce (Picea glauca) is a tree native to North America and growing widely throughout Alaska and Canada. White spruce is the symbolic tree of Canada's Manitoba province and the state of South Dakota in the United States. Commercially, its wood is used to make paper and materials for construction projects. This tree can be grown as a bonsai.
Red spruce
Red spruce (*Picea rubens*) is also known as eastern spruce or yellow spruce to English speakers. French Canadians call the species by the name of “épinette rouge.” Its common name comes from the fact that it has red-colored bark.
Engelmann spruce
Engelmann spruce is a slow-growing, medium-sized evergreen tree that is often found at high elevations. Also known as Picea engelmannii, this tree is frequently harvested for wood, paper, and to make musical instruments.
Blue spruce
The blue spruce (Picea pungens) is an evergreen conifer with a beautiful, thick crown. It gets the "blue" name because its needles have a bluish tint, unlike other pine trees whose needles are a simpler green. This unique appearance has helped to make the blue spruce one of the world's favorite ornamental conifers, and it's especially popular in Christmas tree production. Historically, these trees have also served other ornamental purposes.
White spruce 'Conica'
White spruce 'Conica'' is an evergreen ornamental shrub gracing many gardens with its distinctive conical shape and dense, soft needles. This miniature tree is quite the resilience champion, tolerating cold, wind, and even some degree of urban pollution. Interestingly, it provides shelter for wintering songbirds while adding a festive touch to the holiday season when adorned with twinkling lights.
Sakhalin spruce
The tree has thick cone-shaped branches with a trunk of about 62 to 73 cm in diameter. The buds are usually 3 to 7 mm long, nearly 5 mm wide and have a conical or ovoid form. The tree’s needles are four-sided and a bit curved, mature trees have blunt needles, while young ones have pointed bluish-green ones. The cone has an oblong ovoid or oval form with almost flat base. It is 2 to 4 cm thick and 3.5 to 9 cm long.
Serbian spruce 'Nana'
Serbian spruce 'Nana' is a cultivar of Serbian spruce selected for the fact that it is slow-growing and compact. This is a useful trait when wild specimens of some Serbian spruces can reach up to 30 m. By contrast, this conical green spruce grows to a maximum height of 2.5 m, making it ideal for gardens.
Oriental spruce
It is a large coniferous evergreen tree growing to 30 to 45 m tall or 30 to 44 m (exceptionally to 57 m), and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m (exceptionally up to 4 m). The Caucasian Spruce can also be found in Northern Iran, though its numbers have decreased due to deforestation.
Yeddo spruce
Picea jezoensis, the dark-bark spruce, yeddo spruce, Yezo spruce, or Jezo spruce, is a large evergreen tree growing to 30 to 50 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m. The shoots are pale buff-brown, glabrous (hairless) but with prominent pulvini. The leaves are needle-like, 1.6 to 1.9 cm long, 2.5 mm broad, flattened in cross-section, dark green above and blue-white to white below. The cones are pendulous, slender cylindrical, 4 to 7 cm long and 1.9 cm broad when closed, opening to 3 cm broad. The seeds are black, 3 mm long, with a slender, 6 to 8 mm long pale brown wing.
Siberian spruce
Siberian spruce are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of siberian spruce, making them tremendously ecologically important.
Brewer's spruce
Brewer's spruce are a group of coniferous trees that are of great value to humans in many ways. The wood is used in everything from housing and frame construction to papermaking and crafting musical instruments. Most species grow in handsome, conical shapes, making them popular ornamentals. Many boreal and temperate high-altitude forests around the world are also comprised largely of brewer's spruce, making them tremendously ecologically important.
Sargent's spruce
The sargent's spruce grows as an evergreen tree that can grow to heights of 30 to 50 m and breast height diameters of 1 to 2 m . The pyramid-shaped crown becomes irregularly cylindrical with age. The branches are hanging. The gray to gray-brown bark is divided lengthways into thick, square plates separated by cracks.
Scientific Classification
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