Norway Spruce (Picea abies) – 18-24” (2-2)

Description

Latin: Picea abies
Zones: USDA 2–7
Other Common Names: European Spruce, Common Spruce
Mature Height: 50–80 ft tall (can exceed 120 ft in native range), 25–35 ft spread
Soil/Climate: Prefers moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils; full sun; tolerant of cold winters and wind; less tolerant of prolonged drought or extreme heat
Notes: Large, fast-growing evergreen with a conical form and gracefully pendulous branchlets on mature trees. Needles are ½–1 inch long, stiff, four-sided, dark green, and sharp to the touch. Cones are the largest of all spruces—4–7 inches long—hanging down from branches and persisting into winter. Bark is reddish-brown and scaly.
Wildlife: Provides excellent cover and roosting sites for birds; seeds eaten by red squirrels, crossbills, and other finches; branches shelter deer and small mammals in winter.