RED  SPRUCE

RED SPRUCE (Picea rubens)

Red spruce is found commonly in all parts of the state. It grows on well-drained, rocky upland soils, and particularly on the north side of mountain slopes, where it may be the major species present.

The spreading branches form a somewhat conical, narrow head in young trees. The trunk is long, with a slight taper. It grows to considerable size, and is capable of attaining a height of 60-80 feet and a diameter of 1-2 feet, but occasionally exceeds these measurements. Red spruce is shade tolerant and will become established in the understory of mixed stands.

The bark on mature trees is thick and is broken into thin, reddish brown scales of irregular shape.

The leaves are dark green often with a yellow tinge and are very shiny. They are about 1/2 inch long, sharp-pointed, stiff, and prickly to the touch.

The cones are oblong in shape and usually from 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. When ripe, they have a reddish brown color and are quite shiny. The cone scales are stiff like the black spruce, but the margins are generally without conspicuous notches. The cones begin to drop in the autumn or early winter and are all gone from the branches by the next summer.

The twigs have hairs none of which have a gland at the tip as in black spruce. The inner bark is reddish brown.

The wood is fairly soft, light, close-grained, and strong, but is not as durable as pine when exposed to the weather.

Red spruce is one of our most valuable trees for the production of building lumber. It is used for joists, sills, scantlings and heavy construction timbers, and is the principal wood used in the manufacture of paper pulp. It is also used for weir poles, piling, and Christmas trees, and is valuable for the sounding boards of musical instruments. Spruce gum is obtained largely from this tree.