Red Spruce (Picea rubens)


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At a glance

Names

Latin (scientific) name: Picea rubens

Common English name: Red Spruce

Other names: Eastern or Yellow Spruce

French name: Épinette rouge

Type

conifer tree icon

Coniferous

Plant Hardiness Zone

3a, 3b

Status

species native to Canada

Native

Size at Maturity

Up to 25 meters

Life Expectancy

Medium life expectancy

Where it grows

Plant Hardiness Zone

3a, 3b

Habitat

Maritime provinces and adjacent parts of US

Preferred Soil Type

Moist upland sites in mixed forest

Distribution Across Canada

Maritime provinces

What it looks like

At Maturity

Tall, slender tree. Branches start well above ground

Bark

Smooth and pitted when young, deeply furrowed at maturity

Needles

Curved, 1-16 mm, blunt, shiny, and point forward

Bud

conifer tree icon

Conical; dark brown

Cone

Seed cones ovoid, 3-5 cm long, dark brown, rounded shape scales.

Other

The Red spruce is the official arboreal emblem of Nova Scotia.

What affects it

Pests

Common diseases

Values and Uses

Edible fruit/nut tree?

No

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