Picea rubens

Identifying Features

Red spruce has scaly red-brown to gray bark.

The needles of this tree are 1/2" long and green-yellow in color. They are 4-sided, single, sharp, and curved upward. Crushing the needles will give off an almost citrus scent.

The cones are 1 1/2" long and red-brown in color.

Red spruce often grows between 60 to 100 feet tall.

Habitat & Range

Red spruce grows in a variety of soil moisture levels and sunlight conditions. This tree is found in the most northeastern corner of the United States, and the mountains of the eastern US.

Featured image by James Dake.