Picea rubens (Red Spruce)

Picea rubens (Red Spruce) is a handsome evergreen conifer with a broad or narrow conical crown and a trunk diameter usually up to 24 in. (60 cm). The leaves are needle-like, bright yellow-green, and quite short, 1/2 in. (1 cm). They are four-sided and curved, with a sharp point, extending from all sides of the twig. Thin and scaly, the bark is gray-brown on the surface and cinnamon-brown on the inside. Hanging down from the branches, the cylindrical seed cones, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm), are glossy red-brown with rigid rounded scales that are often slightly toothed on the edges. Red Spruce grows at a slow to moderate rate (over 12 in. (30 cm) per year) and is long-lived, often achieving ages greater than 350 years. Native to eastern North America, Red Spruce grows in climates with cool, moist summers and cold winters. Its habitat is acid, moist but well-drained sandy loam, often at high altitudes. Red Spruce is one of the most important timber species in the northeastern United States. Its light and resilient wood is used for paper, and construction lumber, and is highly preferred for musical instruments. It is a desirable wildlife tree: twigs, leaves, and seeds are important wildlife food. It is very valuable as a nesting site for birds and provides thermal and loafing cover for spruce grouse in winter.

• Grows up to 70-100 ft. tall (21-30 m) and 30-40 ft. wide (9-12 m). 
• Performs best in full sun to partial shade in acidic, moist, well-drained soils. Tolerates full shade, however, growth tends to be suppressed in shade.
• No pruning required.
• Red Spruce is relatively free from insects and diseases until it is mature. Mature trees are susceptible to aphids, beetle Borers and scales, rust, and sooty mold. Red Spruce is unpalatable to white-tailed deer. Red spruce can be easily damaged by wind-throw and acid rain.
• Native to eastern North America, ranging from eastern Quebec and Nova Scotia, west to the Adirondack Mountains, and south through New England along the Appalachians to western North Carolina.