Norway Spruce
Picea abies
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine
KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Picea
- Species:
- Picea abies
- USDA Symbol:
- PIAB
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3700 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Coleotechnites martini, common idia (Idia aemula), Eastern blackheaded budworm (Acleris variana), eastern pine shoot borer (Eucosma gloriola), Endothenia albolineana, European spruce needleminer (Epinotia nanana), False hemlock looper (Nepytia canosaria), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips oporana), pine needleminer (Exoteleia pinifoliella), Pitch mass borer (Synanthedon pini), Ratzeburg's tortricid moth (Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana), Silver-spotted Tiger Moth (Lophocampa argentata), spruce needleminer (Coleotechnites piceaella), Synanthedon novaroensis, variegated midget (Elaphria versicolor), white-fir needleminer (Epinotia meritana), Winter moth (Operophtera brumata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Notes:
- Thin bark and shallow roots make Norway spruce highly susceptible to fire damage; does not resprout after fire.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in cool, humid climates with ample rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 21–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with light and temperatures around 20°C. Fresh seed germinates more readily than stored seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI