Norway Spruce
Picea abies
A majestic evergreen giant that serves as the classic Christmas tree silhouette, featuring gracefully drooping branches and dense, dark green needles that create dramatic winter interest. This fast-growing conifer develops into an impressive specimen with distinctive pendulous branchlets that sway beautifully in the wind, while producing large decorative cones that add architectural appeal. Its reliability in cold climates and ability to serve as an effective windbreak make it a cornerstone tree for northern landscapes.
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–7
USDA hardiness
Height
40-60 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Norway Spruce in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 ornamental-tree →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Norway Spruce · Zones 2–7
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Acrocona', 'Aurea', 'Berry Gardens', 'Conica', 'Conica sport', 'Cranstonii', 'Cupressina', 'Doversi pendula', 'Fluke', 'Frohburg', 'Hillside Upright', 'Inversa', 'Maxwellii', 'Nidiformis', 'Pendula', 'Pumila', 'Pumila Glauca', var. abies. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The cones are greenish to violet when young, and as they mature they become silvery-brown. They are 4 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches in diameter with rounded scales. The scales have a blunt point and rounded tips. The thin scales are irregularly toothed and cylindrical. The cones are pendulous. The seeds are black and up to 0.2 inches long with a pale brown wing.
Color: Brown/Copper. Length: > 3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring
History & Origin
Origin: Europe
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Pollution
- +Attracts: Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Birds, moths, and small mammals are attracted to this tree.
- +Fast-growing
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Rhododendron
Both prefer acidic soil and partial shade, creating compatible growing conditions
Hosta
Thrives in the acidic soil and dappled shade created by spruce canopy
Ferns
Naturally complement spruce in woodland settings, sharing preference for moist, acidic conditions
Blueberry
Benefits from acidic soil conditions created by spruce needle litter
Astilbe
Flourishes in the cool, moist, acidic environment under spruce trees
Heuchera
Tolerates acidic soil and provides colorful ground cover beneath spruce canopy
Wild Ginger
Natural woodland companion that thrives in acidic soil with consistent moisture
Winterberry Holly
Shares preference for acidic soil and provides winter interest alongside evergreen spruce
Keep Apart
Grass Lawn
Struggles to grow under dense spruce canopy due to low light and acidic needle drop
Tomatoes
Cannot tolerate the acidic soil conditions and shade created by mature spruce trees
Roses
Require alkaline soil and full sun, opposite of conditions created by Norway Spruce
Vegetables
Most vegetables need full sun and neutral pH, incompatible with spruce growing conditions
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally hardy, susceptible to spruce gall adelgid and needle cast in humid conditions
Common Pests
Spruce budworm, spider mites, adelgids
Diseases
Needle cast, cytospora canker in stressed trees