Picea abies - European Spruce

Better known as ‘the Christmas Tree’, Picea abies is a large evergreen conifer native across parts of central and northern Europe.

It is the most commonly planted spruce across Europe and also widely used in Northern America and Canada where it has partially naturalised. It is one of the conifers which can tolerate warmer, humid summer weather.

Fast growing when young and slowing with maturity, the shoots and branches of Picea abies are covered in short sharp needles, quadrangular and dark green with white dotted lines, joined to the branches with a short woody ‘peg’.

Both male and female flowers are produced on the same plant in Spring. The females once fertilised produce reddishbrown cones up to 15cm in length, the largest of any Spruce species, which hang below the stems.

FACT: Every year the city of Oslo donates a large Norway Spruce to London, Edinburgh, New York and Washington DC to be placed in their central square. This gift symbolises their gratitude for help and aid received during the second World War.