Spruces & Allies
What are they?
The spruces are typical conifers, with evergreen leaves that are reduced to narrow, pointed needles. They are perhaps most familiar for their service as Christmas trees and, like silver firs, they generally form narrower, more regularly-branched trees than the pines. Spruces typically have pendent cones. This page also includes species that are closely related to the spruces and might be confused with.
Where are they found?
Spruces are widely planted for forestry and ornament. Most ornamental species are rather uncommon and most likely to be found in parks, cemeteries, churchyards and similar places. Norway Spruce is widely used for forestry but other species may also occasionally be found in forest blocks on larger estates.
Identification
Spruces can be difficult to identify to species and much care is needed to check a number of features. These trees most closely resemble the silver firs so you need to check how the needles are attached to the stems. In silver firs, the leaf has a sucker-like base which comes away leaving a rounded depression in the twig. In spruces, each needle is attached to a short, peg-like bump on the twig (see photo, above). Note the arrangement of the needles on the stem - do they appear all around the stem or spread out to the sides? What is the patterning of white on the underside of the leaves and are the tips pointed or rounded? Check also for hairs on the young stems and details of the cone - cones should be readily found on the ground at the base of the tree. The colour of the bark and appearance of the winter bud can also be useful.
Norway Spruce Picea abies
Introduced from mainland Europe. By far the commonest species; widely used as a Christmas tree and planted for forestry, as an ornamental and in shelter belts. Needles pointed-tipped but not sharp and with poorly-marked white stripes. Winter bud rufous-brown, not sticky. Cone long (10-20cm), with scales tightly overlapping.
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Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis
Introduced from western North America. Common in northern and western Britain but rare in a few forestry areas in East Anglia where it doesn't do as well in the drier climate. Needles prickly and very sharply pointed with clear white stripes below. Cone shorter than that of Norway Spruce(6-10cm), less tapered at the tip and with scales more open and loosely overlapping.
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Oriental Spruce Picea orientalis
Introduced from eastern Europe and grown as an ornamental; very rare, but there are excellent, large specimens in woodland at Sprowston, Norfolk and Ampton, Suffolk. Needles the shortest of any spruce (6-12mm) and round-tipped, without white stripes. Cone short (6-10cm), with broadly rounded scales and a well-tapered tip. Bark smoother than most other spruces.
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Colorado Spruce Picea pungens
Introduced from North America. Rare but overlooked (since there are no official records) in forestry blocks or on large estates. Needles pointed-tipped with well-marked white stripes beneath and weaker white lines above on younger needles. Winter bud brown, sometimes with white resin coat. Cone short (5-11cm), with scales having distinctly sinuous edges. Bark grey, flaking in patches.
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Serbian Spruce Picea omorika
Introduced from eastern Europe. A rare species, sometimes grown for ornament and surviving well in cemeteries, churchyards and old estates. Typical specimens form a narrow column and plants often lean over from the base with age. Needles green with white stripes beneath and a slightly pointed tip, closely resembling those of Norway Spruce. Winter bud rufous-brown, not sticky. Cone short (6-6cm), with scales tightly overlapping and a strongly tapered tip.
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Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
Introduced from North America. Widespread and common in forestry areas and shelter belts and commonly self-seeding. Easily mistaken for a spruce, but mature trees have a more open, uneven outline and crown and with lower branches weeping, the needles are longer and flatter and the long buds are distinctive. Needles slender and rather unevenly carried on the stems; flatter than those of the spruces, well-marked with white stripes below. Winter bud chestnut-brown, not sticky, long and pointed. Cones 5-10cm, with long, three-pronged bracts hanging between the scales. Bark with horizontal ridges and vertical cracks on younger trees, becoming more craggy with age.
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Western Hemlock-spruce Tsuga heterophylla
Introduced from North America. Common in forestry plantations, on large estates and in shelter belts. Frequently self-seeds. Needles shorter than those of spruces and flattened, rather like those of our native yew. Young shoots hairy. Winter buds small and well hidden amongst the leaves. Cones small (1.5-2.5cm), with broadly rounded scales. Bark grey but often becoming green with an algal covering.
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Eastern Hemlock-spruce Tsuga canadensis
Introduced from North America. Rare as an ornamental on large estates and in cemeteries. Rarely encountered in East Anglia but very similar to Western Hemlock-spruce and worth being aware of the differences. Needles shorter than those of spruces and flattened, rather like those of our native yew. Young shoots hairy. Winter buds small and well hidden amongst the leaves. Cones a little smaller than Western (1.3-2cm) and more spherical when ripe. Bark grey but often becoming green with an algal covering. The best identification feature is in the distinct row of reversed needles (showing the pale underside uppermost) that lie flat along the upperside of the stem.
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