Practical
Plants

Picea abies

Norway Spruce

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Picea genus in the family Pinaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Pinaceae
Genus
Picea
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
30 m
Spread
10 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young male catkins - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring[6]. Immature female cones - cooked. The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and syrupy[6]. Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[6]. An emergency food, used when all else fails. Seed - raw. Rich in oil and with a pleasant slightly resinous flavour, but too small and fiddly to be worthwhile unless you are desperate[6]. A refreshing tea, rich in vitamin C, can be made from the young shoot tips[6]. These tips are also used in making spruce beer[8].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Inner bark
Plant part
Seed
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The buds, leaves and resin are antibiotic, antiseptic, balsamic, expectorant, sedative[23]. A pitch, or resin, obtained from the trunk is rubefacient and stimulant[14]. It is used externally in plasters etc for its healing and antiseptic properties[23]. A poultice of the sap or gum has been used in the treatment of boil and abscess pain[16].

Product or use
Antibiotic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Balsamic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The tree is a source of pitch (Burgundy pitch) and turpentine (Jura turpentine)[1][23][18][21]. Burgundy pitch is used as a varnish and in medicinal plasters[19]. It is a strong adhesive[20][21]. The turpentine is a waterproofer and wood preservative. They are obtained by incisions in the trunk, the resin is scraped out some months later[21]. An essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery[18][20]. The seed contains 30% of a fatty oil, this is used in the production of a varnish[24]. The bark contains some tannin[5]. Both the bark and bark extract have been widely used in Europe as a source of tannin, the bark containing up to 13% tannin[13]. Yields of tannin have been doubled by heating or steaming the bark as soon as possible after the tree has been felled[13]. A fairly wind resistant tree and fast growing, it can be planted in shelterbelts to provide protection from the wind[11]. The dwarf cultivar 'Inversa' can be grown as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[10]. The cultivars 'Reflexa' and 'Procumbens' can also be used[12]. They are best spaced about 1 metre apart each way[12]. Wood - medium hard, fairly elastic, durable under water, light in weight and colour. Used for general carpentry, joinery, musical instruments etc. Valued for its use in the pulp industry to make paper[1][2][4][18][22].

Product or use
Adhesive
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Pitch
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Varnish
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Soil surface

Ground cover

Windbreak

Environment

Range
N. and C. Europe.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - stratification will probably improve germination so sow fresh seed in the autumn in a cold frame if possible[26]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible in a cold frame[25]. A position in light shade is probably best[25]. Seed should not be allowed to dry out and should be stored in a cool place[26]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. They can be planted out into their permanent positions in early summer of the following year, or be placed in an outdoor nursery bed for a year or so to increase in size. They might need protection from spring frosts. Cuttings of semi-ripe terminal shoots, 5 - 8cm long, August in a frame. Protect from frost. Forms roots in the spring[25]. Cuttings of mature terminal shoots, 5 - 10cm long, September/October in a cold frame. Takes 12 months[25]. Cuttings of soft to semi-ripe wood, early summer in a frame. Slow but sure.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Likes abundant moisture at the roots, if grown in drier areas it must be given a deep moist soil[2]. Succeeds in most soils including those that are wet cold and shallow, but it is not very wind-firm in shallow soils[1]. Intolerant of chalky or poor acid soils[2]. Tolerates poor peaty soils[11]. Prefers a pH between 4 to 6[11]. Dislikes shade[11] according to one report whilst another says that it is moderately shade tolerant[3]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[2]. Resists wind exposure to some degree and is tolerant of saline winds[11]. A very cold-hardy tree when fully dormant, though the young shoots are subject to injury by late frosts[1], though less so than P. sitchensis[3]. A fast growing tree, it is widely planted in cool temperate zones for its wood[11]. Young trees often grow 1 metre or more a year and can sustain an average of 60cm for at least the first 60 years though growth tails off as they grow older[9]. Probably not that long-lived in Britain, about 200 years seems the absolute maximum[9]. In some upland areas, especially over granitic or other base-poor soils, growth rate and health have been seriously affected by aluminium poisoning induced by 'acid rain' pollution[11]. There are many named varieties, almost all of them dwarf forms[11]. A food plant for many caterpillars[17]. A very aggressive tree, it is hostile to other trees[7]. Susceptible to attacks by bark beetles so it should be kept away from more valuable trees. A biological control is being introduced (1983)[3]. This species is susceptible to honey fungus[27]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[11]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[11]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[11]. The seed is shed in spring[1], the cones release their seed whilst they are still on the tree[27]. The bruised leaves emit a delicious musky smell[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 5. 1983 - 1984. Royal Horticultural Society 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

  5. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  6. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  7. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  9. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  12. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  13. Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  16. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  17. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

    ↩

  18. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  19. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  20. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  21. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2↩3

  22. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩

  23. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  24. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  25. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  26. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2

  27. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2

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