Norway spruce

Scientific name: Picea abies

As its name suggests, the Norway spruce is originally native to Northern Europe, with additional growth in Central and Southern Europe. However, the tree is so common in the United States that, beyond the clue in its name, it is not widely known that the tree is not native to the Americas. Distinctively, the Norway spruce has vertically hanging branchlets and the largest cones of any spruce species. Resilient in both drought and city pollution, the only weakness of the tree is that it cannot be grown in wet soil. The tree is a popular choice as a Christmas tree in some countries.

Photo from Grandview Heights TreePlotter.

The tree grows quickly for the first 25 years of its life but slows down after reaching about 65 feet.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?

The wood of the Norway spruce is often used for musical instruments, particularly violins.

Photo from OPLIN's What Tree is It?