Red spruce, Eastern spruce, Yellow spruce, He-balsam
Picea rubens

Family: Pinaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows to 25 m high. The trunk is 60 cm across. The crown is a rather open cone shape. The bark is reddish-brown and separated into darker scales or plates with age. The branches slope downwards with the tips turned upwards. The leaves are single and curved and 10-16 mm long. They are shiny yellowish green. The tip is blunt. The needles point forward often pressed close to the twig. The cones are oval and 3-5 cm long. They are chocolate brown. The taper to a very short stalk. They scales are stiff and have light lines over them. The cones open with widely spread scales. These are easily separated from the axis.

There are between 30 and 40 species of Picea.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist upland sites in Canada. It is very shade tolerant. It suits hardiness zones 4-8.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

It has been used to produce spruce beer. The young leafy twigs were boiled. The gum is used for chewing gum.

Edible parts

Flowers, gum, inner bark, leaves, seeds, tea

How it is grown

Trees can live for 300 years. There are good seed crops every 2-11 years.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Picea australis Small; Picea rubra (Lam.) Link.;