# Norway spruce (*Picea abies*) The Norway spruce is a tall tree with long, green needles and cones. It grows in forests and is known for its strong wood, which is used to make many things, including furniture and musical instruments. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Norway spruce](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424594/objects/1763.jpg) ## Appearance The Norway spruce has a classic conical shape with dense, dark green, pointed needles that are stiff and sharp to the touch. Its bark is reddish-brown, flaking in small scales, and it produces large, reddish-brown cones that hang downwards once mature. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Picea ## Interesting facts - Early European explorers used spruce shoots rich in Vitamin C to prevent scurvy on voyages! - Its strong, lightweight wood is prized for making violins, guitars, and other musical instruments! - Many Christmas trees bought around the world are actually young Norway spruce trees! - The oldest living clonal tree, 'Old Tjikko', is a Norway spruce over 9,550 years old! ## Special abilities - **Snow Shaker:** Norway spruce has flexible branches that bend under heavy snow, preventing breakage and shedding the snow quickly to avoid damage. - **Resin Repair:** Norway spruce can ooze sticky resin from its bark, acting like a natural bandage to seal wounds and protect against pests and fungi. - **Cold Conqueror:** Norway spruce has waxy, tough needles that reduce water loss and protect it from freezing damage in harsh winter environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 3000-6000 cm - **Spread:** 500-800 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-deer) (*Cervus elaphus*) — They browse on young shoots and bark, especially in winter. - **Eats:** [Red Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Sciurus vulgaris*) — Squirrels extract and eat the nutritious seeds from its cones. - **Eats:** Common Crossbill (*Loxia curvirostra*) — Their unique beaks are perfectly adapted to pry open spruce cones. - **Symbiotic with:** [Brown Roll-rim](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-roll-rim) (*Paxillus involutus*) — This fungus helps the spruce roots absorb nutrients from the soil. ## Traits - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the sharp needles and cones, and don't climb too high in the trees. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Norway spruce? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Norway spruce? 3000-6000 cm ### How wide does Norway spruce spread? 500-800 cm ### When does Norway spruce bloom? Spring ### Is Norway spruce edible? Yes ### Is Norway spruce toxic? None ### What is Norway spruce's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Norway spruce pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Ranuan Eläinpuisto](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ranuan-el-inpuisto) — Lapland, FI · Zoo - [Tiergarten Schönbrunn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-sch-nbrunn) — Vienna, AT · Zoo - [Bavarian Forest National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bavarian-forest-national-park) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Harz National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harz-national-park) — Niedersachsen; Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Park - [Hofgarten Eremitage (Bayreuth)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hofgarten-eremitage-bayreuth) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Südschwarzwald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southern-black-forest-nature-park) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park [View all places to see Norway spruce](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/norway-spruce) ## Watch - [Play video: Norway spruce](https://www.snappit.app/videos/norway-spruce) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=vHzVFuZfS0A) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Norway spruce: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/norway-spruce)