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Picea abies

Norway spruce

A fast-growing, dense conifer, to 30m tall, narrowly-conical when young becoming broader with age. Dark green, glossy, needle-like leaves, to 2.5cm long, cover the upper side of the branchlets. The light brown cones taper at the top, reaching up to 15cm long and 5cm wide

Other common names
Baltic whitewood
Burgundy pitch tree
see morecommon spruce
spruce fir
white deal
Synonyms
Picea abies 'Excelsa'
Picea rubra A. Dietr.
see morePinus excelsa Lamb.

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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green Brown
Autumn Green Brown
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Pinaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Picea are evergreen trees with rigid, needle-like leaves arranged singly all round the shoots, and narrow, leathery-scaled cones borne near the ends of the shoots

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, acid or neutral soil. See conifer cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Low Maintenance
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to adelgids, red spider mite and conifer aphid

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

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