Norway Spruce

Picea abies (L.) Karst. Needles: evergreen (1.2 - 2.0 cm), stiff, 4-angled, sharp pointed, spreading on all sides of twig from short leafstalks; twigs: hairless, reddish-brown; European, widely planted for Christmas trees.

We went to Maple Row Tree Farm yesterday and cut our Christmas tree. In the past we have always gotten firs (e.g. Balsam Fir, Frasier Fir), but this year we found such a perfect specimen of Norway Spruce that we decided to make a change. It does have really prickly needles, and it maybe it will dry out a bit faster than a fir - but the form of this little tree is absolutely perfect.  Plan is to start trimming the tree later this morning.

[NOTES: The tallest Norway Spruce is 63 m tall, growing in the Sutjetska National Park of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The city of Oslo provides Norway Spruce trees to New York, London, Edinburgh, and Washington, D.C. each Christmas to show their gratitude for the assistance of these countries during World War II].