PlantFiles: Norway Spruce
Picea abies

One of the most widely distributed conifers in Bulgaria, along with Scots Pine and Austrian Pine.
It is widely planted in the colder cities, though it suffers from pollution and on the whole looks miserable.
Interestingly, for me it has grown admirably on the Black Sea coast, which is the warmest part of Bulgaria, with no signs of brown needles, a languishing habit or stunted growth.

The Spruce-trees usually live up to 300 years.

I bought this cultivar about twenty+ years ago as a 12-14" bare rooted "twig". At that time I was very involved with getting more conifer/evergreen material into my dreary 'scrubby' landscape. Having planted this young tree on a gentle sloping hillside, I fought with weeds and 'scrub' growth for five years to prevent choking it out. Today it stands at about 25-30 feet in height, and spreads fifteen feet in diameter at the base. The main trunk at the base is at least 14-16" in diameter! It has been (and continues to be) the fastest growing conifer out of all that I grow. It has done exactly what I envisioned (along with many other conifers) after what seems like a very long time ago. It is to say the least a very beautiful tree year after year, and adds appeal to the surrounding area. In addition to landscape improvement, this tree makes a good hang out for purple finches, robins and chirping sparrows who use it for shelter and nesting.

Norway spruce is very prevalent in our central NY state area as well as many others. The huge deep green conifers are regal in appearance when young, and their branches have a slightly ruffled-like habit - the branches with their needles "dripping" from the stronger branches - somewhat like a velvet sleeve drooping from an arm. As they become mature, they often become slightly disheveled and "shaggy" looking in their upper branches. But they are still among one of the most beautiful trees in the region.

Cones generally are on a two year cycle in their drop; elongated, with many tiny, alternate, toothed petals, which finally end in a rosette at the bottom of the cone. Wonderful for use in crafts - especially wreaths.

A coniferous tree from Scandinavia to Southern Europe.

Has dark green, blunt, needle like leaves. Bark is red-brown. Bears oval to cylindrical female cones that are green when young later turning purple or brown. Male cones are egg shaped and yellow or purple.

Both male and female cones appear in spring.

Enjoys a well-drained but moist, neutral to acid soil in sun.

These are commercially grown trees in Great Britain, mainly as Christmas trees although they are likely to loose their leaves when brought indoors!

A concoction made of the leaves was once taken as a restorative but this has no known medical foundation and, as always, not recommended.