{"id":258,"date":"2013-08-29T10:47:28","date_gmt":"2013-08-29T17:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/trees\/?page_id=258"},"modified":"2025-03-20T08:34:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T15:34:52","slug":"spruces","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/","title":{"rendered":"Spruces"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>There are about 50 species of spruce in the world, all in the Northern Hemisphere and half being from China. The spruce is a conical evergreen often with scaly bark. The leaves are needle-like and in many species are sharp at the tip. The cone sizes vary from quite small to very long, but they are usually pendulous and ripen in the first year.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<ul class=\"childPages\"><li><h2><span class=\"commonname\">Brewer&#8217;s Spruce<\/h2><span class=\"scientificNameValue\">Scientific name: Picea breweriana<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"childContent\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR1_lg1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-479 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR1_lg1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Brewers Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR1_lg1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR1_lg1.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR2_lg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-480 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR2_lg-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Brewers Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR2_lg-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIBR2_lg.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nNative to the Siskiyou Mountains in California and Oregon at elevations of 5,000 to 7,000 feet, Brewer's Spruce is found only in a few small groves. Pendulous branchlets hang vercially 7-8 feet or more, creating a graceful curtain. This species was selected as a replacement from the original planting list.<br \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/brewers-spruce\/\">View tree page and map.<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><h2><span class=\"commonname\">Colorado Spruce<\/h2><span class=\"scientificNameValue\">Scientific name: Picea pungens <\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"childContent\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU1_lg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-482 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU1_lg-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Colorado Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU1_lg-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU1_lg.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU2_lg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-483 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU2_lg-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Colorado Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU2_lg-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIPU2_lg.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nThese trees grow to 150 feet and are pyramidal at maturity. They are gray-green or blue-green, depending on the cultivar, of which there are many. It is a favorite front lawn tree in Portland neighborhoods.<br \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/colorado-spruce\/\">View tree page and map.<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><h2><span class=\"commonname\">Fat Albert<\/h2><span class=\"scientificNameValue\">Scientific name: Picea pungens<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"childContent\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0114-fat-albert-e1411167735272.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1951 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0114-fat-albert-e1411167735272-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_0114 fat albert\" width=\"224\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0114-fat-albert-e1411167735272-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0114-fat-albert-e1411167735272-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0114-fat-albert-e1411167735272.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0113-fat-albert-e1411167724961.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1950 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0113-fat-albert-e1411167724961-233x300.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_0113 fat albert\" width=\"233\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0113-fat-albert-e1411167724961-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0113-fat-albert-e1411167724961-796x1024.jpg 796w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/IMG_0113-fat-albert-e1411167724961.jpg 1749w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/a>Hey hey hey! A cultivar from Colorado Blue spruce, Fat Albert has a dense pyramid with blue needle color, and is considered a semi-dwarf, with a slow growth to fifteen feet.<br \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/fat-albert\/\">View tree page and map.<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><h2><span class=\"commonname\">Norway Spruce<\/h2><span class=\"scientificNameValue\">Scientific name: Picea abies<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"childContent\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB1_lg1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-488 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB1_lg1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Norway Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB1_lg1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB1_lg1.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB2_lg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-489 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB2_lg-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Norway Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB2_lg-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIAB2_lg.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nThis tree is native to northern and central Europe. Often employed as a windbreak, it withstands both cold and wind very well. The tree is large and produces 8 inch long cones. There are many cultivars of this species of varying appearance. The length of the cones is the best way to identify it from other spruces.<br \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/norway-spruce\/\">View tree page and map.<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><h2><span class=\"commonname\">Serbian Spruce<\/h2><span class=\"scientificNameValue\">Scientific name: Picea omorika<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"childContent\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM1_lg1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-491 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM1_lg1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Serbian Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM1_lg1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM1_lg1.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM2_lg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-492 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM2_lg-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Serbian Spruce\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM2_lg-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PIOM2_lg.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nNative to the Balkans, it is rare to find this tree, even in its native habitat. It is a graceful, beautiful spruce with a narrow but pyramidal growth pattern.<br \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/serbian-spruce\/\">View tree page and map.<\/a><\/p><\/li><li><h2><span class=\"commonname\">Sitka Spruce<\/h2><span class=\"scientificNameValue\">Scientific name: Picea sitchensis<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"childContent\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PISI1_lg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-494 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PISI1_lg-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Sitka Spruce\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PISI1_lg-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/files\/2013\/08\/PISI1_lg.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nNative to the Northwest, the Sitka Spruce is the largest of the spruce family and a fast grower. Its needles are very sharp and stiff, and its branches are long, growing from well down on the trunk, with an upward sweep at the end. The largest known Sitka Spruce in the lower 48 is found near Seaside, Oregon. Native Americans used this spruce to make baskets, rainhats, rope, tea, and chewing gum. We use it today for ladders, doors, oars, scaffolding, bleachers, boat masts, and musical instruments such as violins.<br \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/sitka-spruce\/\">View tree page and map.<\/a><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are about 50 species of spruce in the world, all in the Northern Hemisphere and half being from China. The spruce is a conical evergreen often with scaly bark. The leaves are needle-like and in many species are sharp&nbsp;&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/spruces\/sitka-spruce\/\">finish&nbsp;reading&nbsp;Sitka Spruce<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":491,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"trees_template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-258","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1854,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/258\/revisions\/1854"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.reed.edu\/trees\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}