Norway Spruce tree identification 

The Norway Spruce Picea abies, a conifer native to Southern Scandinavia, the Alps, the Balkans and Russia, was introduced to Britain around 1500. It is now very common in forests, shelter belts, parks and gardens. In Britain it has a lifespan of 200 years and reaches a height of 40 m. Its timber is known as ‘white deal’ used mainly for internal construction.  It was the traditional Christmas tree and is probably now the commonest ornamental spruce. Norway Spruce tree identification – abundant, long, hanging cones, orange shoots with green needles that have white stripes underneath. It has masses of large cones near the top of the tree. The needles are not spiky. They can easily be confused with Firs but differ in the way the needles are attached to their shoots. They have cones that hang down whereas Firs have cones that stand up.

There are about 35 species of Spruce worldwide. They are evergreen conifers found right across North America and Eurasia. They form vast forests in northern regions and some, such as the Sitka Spruce, have been widely planted for timber production in Britain.