Tree Identification
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Picea abies - Norway Spruce
Things to note on the twigs and needles. The twig color is rather orange (straw colored) and the needles have a dull point unlike Colorado blue spruce's sharp needle tip.
Note the bud scales, they are reflexed or curved back.
Staminate flowers and newly emerging vegetative buds of Norway Spruce.
The ovulate flowers or cones of Norway spruce.
Form of Norway Spruce with drooping lateral branchlets.
Look for flaky to scaly bark that is brown to gray in color and deeply furrowed as it matures.
Immature (1st season) Norway spruce cones
Norway spruce cones are typically 4 to 8 inches long with oblong, stiff scales that have toothed or irregular margins.
All Images By: Dave Hanson
  • Characteristics
  • Disease Management
Norway spruce is native to central and Northern Europe, not to Minnesota. Yet, this species does very well here as a landscape specimen and it has been popular through the years.
Medium to largetree height: 40-80'
Canopy spreads: 25-30', Pyramidal crown. Rather rapid growth in it's youth.
Drought Tolerance: Intermediate
Shade Tolerance: Intolerant
Soil pH Tolerance: Tolerant to high pH
Poor Soil Drainage: Intolerant to flooding
Salt Tolerance:

 Sensitive to salt spray and Sensitive to soil salts.
Spruces bear single needles that are typically 4-sided or square-ish in cross-section. Norway spruce is typical in this sense and its needles will roll between your fingers. Typically, the needles are pointed at the end - compare the stiff, sharply pointed needles of Colorado blue spruce to the dull or blunt points of Norway spruce. Needle length on Norway spruce is typically 1/2 to 1 inch long and the needles are squarish with a nice dark green color. Like most conifer needles a close-up look at the needles reveals lines of small white dots - these are stomates and typically there are 2-3 lines on each side of the needles.

The twigs on Norway spruce are orangey or straw colored, hairless (compare to black spruce) and pendulous as they mature (drooping laterals). The bud scales are usually reflexed (curved back) and are typically golden brown overlapping scales.

Norway spruce bears its winged seeds in cones that are 4 to 8 inches long. The cones are constructed of oblong overlapping, stiff scales with scale margins that are irregularly toothed. Look for flaky to scaly bark that is brown to gray in color and deeply furrowed as it matures.

Norway spruce is popular landscape tree and is used on occasion as a Christmas tree in Minnesota. There are varieties available in the nursery trade.
DISEASE SYMPTOMS MANAGEMENT
Cytospora canker, Leucostoma kunzei Fungi
 Branch dieback in the lower crown with copious amounts of oozing sap. Cankers spread from infection site on branch toward trunk. Needles turn purple or brown then drop. This disease attacks stressed spruce, esp. mature Colorado blue spruce. Plant on good sites. Avoid wounds and crowding. Maintain plant health. Remove and destroy infected branches in late winter.

CHEMICAL: None.
Lirula needle blight, Lirula sp. Fungi
 Inner needles turn a light tan and remain on the tree. Black, slightly raised, elongate fruiting bodies develop on the lower surface of infected needles. Plant on good sites. Avoid wounds and crowding.

CHEMICAL: Make a single application of chlorothalonil by July 1.
Rhizosphaera needle cast, Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii Fungi
 Infection occurs on new needles which discolor and shed the next spring and summer. Needles discolor first yellow then purple or brown. Tiny black fruiting bodies replace the white stomata on individual green or discolored needles and can easily be seen with a hand lens. Trees are predisposed by stress, especially drought. Avoid stress, especially from drought. Increase air circulation by removing lower branches and mowing grass or weeds. Avoid overhead watering.

CHEMICAL: Two spring applications of chlorothalonil will protect new needles from infection.