# spruces (*Picea*) Spruces are tall, evergreen trees with sharp, needle-like leaves. They are often found in cold places and can grow very tall, making them great for climbing and hiding! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![spruces](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Picea_abies.jpg&width=800) Photo: The original uploader was MPF at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Picea_abies.jpg) ## Appearance The spruces has sharp, stiff needles that are square in cross-section and individually attached to small woody pegs. Its cones hang downwards from branches, often starting green or purplish before maturing to brown. The bark is typically scaly or furrowed. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Pinaceae - **Genus:** Picea ## Interesting facts - Indigenous peoples once chewed spruce resin like gum for its fresh, clean taste and medicinal properties. - Sailors historically brewed spruce beer to prevent scurvy on long voyages, thanks to its Vitamin C. - Spruce wood is prized by instrument makers for its amazing ability to resonate sound in violins! - The world's oldest individual tree, 'Old Tjikko' in Sweden, is an ancient spruce! ## Special abilities - **Snow Shedder:** Spruces have a distinctive conical shape that helps them shed heavy snow, preventing branch breakage and protecting them. - **Drought Defender:** Its sharp, tough needles have a thick waxy coating to reduce water loss and deter hungry herbivores. - **Sap Shield:** Spruces can produce sticky resin that oozes from wounds, sealing them and protecting against insects and fungi. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1000-6000 cm - **Spread:** 300-1000 cm - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Moose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moose) (*Alces alces*) — Browses on young spruce twigs and needles. - **Eats:** [Red Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Tamiasciurus hudsonicus*) — Feeds primarily on spruce seeds from cones. - **Eats:** Spruce Budworm (*Choristoneura fumiferana*) — Larvae defoliate spruce trees, causing damage. - **Shelter:** [Northern Goshawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-goshawk) (*Accipiter gentilis*) — Often builds large nests in tall, mature spruce trees. - **Symbiotic with:** Deceiver mushroom (*Laccaria bicolor*) — Forms beneficial mycorrhizal associations with spruce roots. ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [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. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around tall trees and watch for falling branches during strong winds. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify spruces? 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 spruces? 1000-6000 cm ### How wide does spruces spread? 300-1000 cm ### Is spruces edible? Yes ### Is spruces toxic? None ### What is spruces's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is spruces pollinated? Wind ### Where is spruces usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Rutherford Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutherford-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Neebin Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/neebin-park) — Ontario, CA · Park - [Real Jardín Botánico Juan Carlos I, Alcalá de Henares](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/real-jardin-botanico-juan-carlos-i-alcala-de-henares) — Comunidad de Madrid, ES · Park - [Ryan Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ryan-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [DMZ Native Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dmz-native-botanical-garden) — KR · Park - [Mullen's Head Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mullens-head-park) — Maine, US · Park [View all places to see spruces](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spruces) ## 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: [Spruces: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spruces)