Spruce

Spruce has a dense, pyramid-shaped habit.

General habit

It is bushy and compact (6 to 8 m) in areas where the climate is harshest, and tree-like and slender (20 m tall) in areas that suit it, with branches that droop more and more with age.

Stem

Black spruce and white spruce can be told apart by the colour of the central stem under the branch.

Bark

Its bark is light grey, thin and scaly.

Leaves

Its twigs, often slightly downy when young, are silvery green and matte, and bear four-sided needles 1 to 2 cm long.

Flowers

In spring, the male cone is an upright, conical catkin 10 to 20 mm long.

Fruit

The female cone is at first upright and purple, then scaly, hanging and long (4 to 5 cm). It is the one that holds the seeds.