Picea - Spruce

Pinaceae

Our Picea

There are 60 species of spruces (Picea). They mainly grow in the mountains and large forest regions in the northern hemisphere. Almost without exception, they have pointed conical shape with clearly s with clearly confined layers of whorling branches. This consistent appearance is however variegated by the large number of cultivated species of different forms and colours. Especially targeted cultivation resulted in an interesting variety in sizes, deviating growth patterns and needling.

All spruces have rigid, usually square, sometimes even pointed needles. Their monoecious blossoms usually appear at several-year intervals, about every 3 - 4 years. Pollen of the yellow blossom bundles settles on moist parts on the plant and looks like sulphur coating. Female red blossoms show their future form as small cones.

Usually, they only grow on old when the tree is old, except some attractive ornamental species. The latter develop cones in many brown hues even when the tree is young. Unlike firs, the spruce cones do not grow upright, but hang on the branches. The spruce root system is flat and far-reaching. It does not tolerate understory, but in turn reacts sensitively to any intervention.

Species and variety overview

A. Habit

Upright

Broadly conical

Cushion form

Unusual-bizarre

B. Needle colour

Green needles

Grey-green, silver grey to blue needles

Yellow green needles

Picea orientalis 'Aurea'

C. Cones

Find your Picea

Picea abies

Common Spruce, Norway Spruce

25 to 60 m

6 to 10 m