White spruce
You have a white spruce.
Picea glauca
White spruce
Picea glauca is a species of spruce native to boreal forests in North America, ranging from Newfoundland to central Alaska. A mature white spruce can be 80 to 140 feet tall with a trunk 3 feet in diameter. It is widely harvested for paper making and is also used to make sounding boards for pianos and violins.
Key Path Summary:
- Leaves are needlelike, at least four times longer than wide.
- Needles occur singly, not in clusters.
- Buds are round or egg-shaped and have blunt tips.
- Needles are on woody projections on the stem.
- Bud scales are pressed tightly together; buds are small, less than 1/4 inch long.
- Needles have a slight gray or blue cast.
The 15 Species
All 15 species grown commercially as holiday trees in the United States and Canada are included in the key. Select a species below to see photos and learn more.
