Norway Spruce

Norway spruce grows in the United States is seldom more than 130 feet tall. Diameter may reach as much as two feet on older trees. It is readily identified by its dark green needles and drooping branchlets. Trees have dark green crown with a triangular shape. Needles are 4-sided, 1/2-1 inch long, and sharp or somewhat blunt at the tip. At the base of each needle is a twig-like projection which remains after the needle is lost. Although sometimes confused with true firs, rectangular rather than flat needles, cones which hang down rather than stand erect on the stem. Additionally, spruce cones fall from the tree after seeds are disseminated, whereas fir cones disintegrate.