Botanical characteristics of spruce

Norway spruce or European spruce- Picea abies (L.) Karst. - a well-known evergreen conifer tree from the pine family (Pinaceae) 20-30 (up to 40, and in Western Europe even up to 50) m high with a pyramidal crown. Growth in height does not stop almost throughout life, and even old trees retain their pointed conical shape. The trunk is slightly tapering, that is, it gradually decreases in diameter from the base to the top. Very large individuals have thick trunks with a diameter at the base of up to 1 m. The bark of the branches is red-brown, smooth, brownish-gray on the trunks, with uneven surface, peeling in small areas. The branches are arranged in regular whorls, each year is marked with a new whorl, which makes it easy to determine the age of the tree by their number.
Young branches are densely covered with leaves. The leaves are single, hard, needle-shaped, up to 2-2.5 cm long and 1-1.5 mm thick, dark green, shiny, tetrahedral, pointed at the end, therefore spiny. Such leaves are called needles. Each needle lives and stays on the branches for 6-7 (sometimes 12) years, although in urban plantings the life of needles is shorter.
Spruce does not have pronounced leaf fall: the needles fall off gradually, and new ones do not grow at the same time.
The plants are monoecious: one individual develops both male and female generative organs, collected in spikelets. Spruce, like all other gymnosperms, does not have flowers or true fruits. In the lower part of the shoot there are male spikelets, in the upper part - female ones, larger in size, reddish-brown in color. Male spikelets are elongated-cylindrical, look like reddish-yellow cones 2-2.5 cm long, surrounded at the base by light green scales. Pollen disperses in May-June, after which the male spikelets fall off. Pollination is carried out by the wind. Each speck of dust is equipped with two appendages - air sacs, which provides it with exceptional volatility. Observations have shown that the spread of pollen from a spruce tree can reach 8-10 km.
Fertilized ovules develop into seeds, and the entire female spikelet during the summer and autumn is transformed into a kind of organ - a cone, consisting of an axis and woody light brown scales attached to it; seeds are placed in their axils. The cones are hanging, cylindrical, smoothly rounded at both ends, 10-16 cm long and 3-4 cm in diameter. At first they are red, then turn green, and when they become mature, they turn brown. A good-sized cone can develop up to 200 seeds. The seeds are dark brown, ovoid, small - there are 1 05-1 10 thousand spruce seeds in 1 kg.
Spruce seeds ripen in September-October, spill out of the cones only in winter and in early spring, but the opened cones themselves continue to hang on the tree for quite a long time. They fall whole, covering the soil in places with a continuous cover, and do not collapse for a long time. Each seed is equipped with a light brown wing that facilitates the dispersal of seeds by the wind. In the second half of winter, the snow is often covered with an ice crust (crust). So, the wind often blows spruce seeds across the crust over a considerable distance.
Spruce reproduces by seed. Experts have calculated that in productive years 1 hectare of spruce forest can contain up to 5 million seeds. Of course, not all of them germinate and, moreover, not at the same time. Seeds remain viable for up to 10 years. The seedlings bring to the surface 8-9 (from 5 to 1 0) cotyledons, which remain green for 2-3 years, although in the very first years real leaves-needles appear. During the first year of life, seedlings reach only 4-5 cm in height. And in subsequent years, the seedling is not distinguished by its rapid growth - by the age of 10, the fir-tree grows by 1-2 m. Only from 15-20 years old does the growth of the spruce accelerate; it gives the greatest growth (up to 70 cm per year) at the age of 35-65 years. Unlike many tree species, spruce continues to grow in height until the end of its life.
The first cones (and seeds) appear on young spruce trees at 15 years old if they grow in lighted areas. In the forest, spruce begins to bear seeds only at 25-30 years of age, and in dense plantations even later - at 50-70 years of age. It is curious that trees that are just beginning to produce seeds develop only female spikelets in the first years. Seed years are repeated every 3-7 years. The total lifespan of spruce trees is from 200 to 400 years, but individual trees reach an age of 600 and even 800 years.

Norway spruce is widespread throughout the forest zone of Europe, including European Russia, forming pure and mixed forests. The southern border of spruce forests generally coincides with the northern border of chernozem. This does not mean that it cannot grow on black soil - it grows well in plantings throughout the Russian Black Earth region.
In the Cis-Ural region, Norway spruce is gradually being replaced by a related species - Siberian spruce (Picea obovafa Ledeb.J, which is distinguished by smaller cones with wide whole scales. The range of Siberian spruce extends from the northernmost latitudes of Scandinavia to the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. In the sector between the White Sea and the Urals it forms the northern border of the forest. It is an important forest-forming species of the Ural and Siberian taiga. In total, about 25% of the total forest area in our country is occupied by spruce plantations.
Spruce is widely grown in urban plantings, and along with domestic species, some foreign forms are also cultivated, which are particularly decorative, for example, blue spruce of North American origin. Norway spruce is widely grown in roadside plantings; in particular, it is used to line railways, which protects them from snow drifts.
Norway spruce is a shade-tolerant and frost-resistant species that avoids habitats with stagnant moisture. In no favorable conditions, for example, on the northern border of the forest, forms an elfin form. Its root system is superficial, lying mainly in the layer of soil and ground to a depth of 0.8-1 m, so the spruce weakly resists wind blows. It suffers greatly from forest fires, even ground fires, since its bark is quite thin and the cambium tissue quickly dies from overheating. Does not tolerate high temperatures and especially dry air.
Spruce conquers new territory only with the help of small-leaved tree species, most often birch. A birch tree grows in a free area, and in this new birch forest the spruce seeds that have flown here germinate. Spruce seedlings feel good under the birch canopy (in open areas they die from various reasons, including due to strong illumination and dry air that they cannot tolerate). Young fir trees gradually outgrow the birch in height and, instead of being grateful for the good conditions of the “children’s and youth’s” life, they choke the birch tree, creating unbearable lighting conditions with their dense crowns.

Economic use of spruce

Spruce wood serves as the main raw material for the production of paper and cardboard. Until recently, 70% of world paper production came from spruce raw materials. Spruce wood is widely used in construction (“a spruce hut and a healthy heart”), in carpentry, in particular in the manufacture of furniture. Telegraph poles and railway sleepers are made from it. Spruce wood is irreplaceable for making some musical instruments, such as violins. For this purpose, trees that are most often chosen are those that have withered on the root and have stood dry for several years. Trees whose wood is suitable for making stringed instruments are called resonant spruce. ,
Waste spruce wood that is not needed by woodworking production: sawdust, chips, trimmings, shavings, etc., is a raw material for chemists. From this seemingly garbage, ethyl alcohol is obtained through hydrolysis, which is consumed in many industries, as well as a valuable building material - plasticizer. By dry distillation of non-commercial spruce wood, acetic acid and methyl alcohol are obtained - intermediate products of many valuable chemical compounds.
Spruce bark contains a lot of tannins used in tanning. Turpentine and rosin are obtained from resin obtained by cutting the bark of spruce trees. And these products, as you know, are in wide demand in various sectors of the economy, culture and medicine.
Unfortunately, spruce medicinal plant It is clearly not used enough yet. Scientists have calculated how unacceptably we waste the so-called gifts of nature. Their calculations are so impressive that I would like to present them in full, although they seem to be boring and intended for specialists.
In our country, up to 200 million m3 of commercial spruce timber were harvested annually (almost 100% of spruce harvesting was carried out in Russia, so everything said here applies not so much to the USSR as to Russia). For every cubic meter of wood there is up to 500 kg of waste, the main part of it (up to 250 kg) is woody greens (timbered branches), which can serve as raw materials for the production of many useful products, including vitamins and medicines.


Judge for yourself. Spruce needles contain: chlorophyll, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon salts; microelements: Al, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Ag, Pb, S, B. 19 amino acids were isolated from spruce needles, incl. lysine, arginine, glycine, threonine, valine, leucine, alanine, aspartic and glutamic acids. The total amino acid content is 0.7-4.9% by weight of dry needles.
Spruce needles are a concentrate of vitamins. The following were found in dry needles: carotene (provitamin A), tocopherol (vitamin E), phylloquinone (vitamin K), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), flavonoids with P-vitamin activity, thiamine (vitamin B), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pantothenic acid (vitamin B3), nicotinic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), biotin (vitamin B7), folic acid (vitamin B9).
And all this wealth is practically not used.
It is impossible not to mention the custom of meeting New Year with a Christmas tree. The custom is, of course, good, but at the same time it entails great losses for our forests.
Spruce seeds are an important winter food for squirrels and granivorous birds wintering in Russia, such as crossbills, which even hatch their chicks in winter.

Medicinal value of spruce and methods of medicinal use

Spruce has medicinal use in its coniferous branches (“paws”), which can be collected throughout the year (while trying not to damage the tree branches). They contain essential oil, trace elements (iron, manganese, chromium, aluminum, copper), stilbene, caffeic acid. It is believed that the presence of stilbene makes the study of pine needle extracts promising as sources of contraceptives.
Spruce needles contain a significant amount of ascorbic acid. As it turned out, it contains 6 times more vitamin C than lemon and orange, and 25 times more than onions and potatoes. Its greatest concentration is in winter and early spring. People have long used the paws of spruce (as well as other conifers) to obtain a drink rich in vitamin C. This drink is used to treat scurvy, and they drink it to prevent vitamin deficiencies, especially in late winter and early spring, when there are no other vitamin-containing greens yet. Add 40g of pine needles to 1 cup of boiling water, boil for 20 minutes. and insist. The resulting infusion is drunk in 2-3 doses throughout the day.
In the midst of a flu epidemic, it is useful to burn small pieces of spruce resin several times a day in the room where a flu patient is lying. The persistent resinous smell that accompanies this procedure pleasantly aromatizes the room. The resin itself and its combustion products have a healing effect on the patient and disinfect the air.
Spruce is the most ancient medicinal tree in the Russian forest. More primitive people used it for treatment. The air in the spruce forest is almost sterile. Fans of walks through the spruce forest have probably noticed how the feeling of depression and helplessness that arises at the sight of dark green giants, under whose crowns nothing grows, is replaced by self-confidence and peace of mind. Walking through a green forest is very good for your health.
For throat diseases, colds, acute and chronic respiratory diseases (tonsillitis, tracheitis, bronchial asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis), use an infusion of pine needles. Gargle with the decoction and drop into the nose (for vasomotor rhinitis), 4-5 drops into both nostrils. The temperature of the decoction is 35 °C.
Folk remedy for cough, flu, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis - syrup from honey and spruce buds. Spruce or fir buds are collected at the end of May, when they have grown 3-5 cm, washed in cold water, and finely chopped. % For 1 kg of kidneys - 3-4 liters of water. Boil in an enamel bowl for 10-15 minutes, strain, let it settle and strain again through cheesecloth. For 1 kg of the resulting decoction, add 1 kg of honey and South propolis extract (extract: 30 g of propolis per 100 ml of alcohol), mix well and heat to 40-45 ° C. Once cooled, pour into bottles and store them closed in a cool place. Take 1 teaspoon before meals 3 times a day.

Make a mixture of spruce resin and yellow wax (one part by weight of each component). Melt the mixture and cool. Place pieces of the mixture on hot coals, breathe in the smoke released in case of persistent old cough, chronic bronchitis.

At the same time, you can take a decoction of spruce shoots in milk orally. Pour 30g of shoots or young cones into 1 liter of milk and cook in a sealed container for 30 minutes. Strain and take in small portions throughout the day. This decoction is also recommended for the treatment of inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, dropsy and scurvy.


Green spruce cones are poured with water in a ratio of 1:5 and boiled for 30 minutes. The resulting decoction is gargled and dripped into the nose.
For kidney stones and renal colic, the drug pinabine is used, which is a mixture of essential oil from spruce (or pine) needles and peach oil (in equal parts). It has an antispasmodic effect on the muscles of the urinary tract and inhibits the development of pathogenic bacteria in them.
Take 5-20 drops of sugar 2 times a day before meals for 4-5 weeks.

You can take pinabine only as prescribed by a doctor, as there are contraindications for it.

Various ointments are used to treat pustules, wounds and ulcers. The simplest of them is an ointment made from spruce resin melted with lard.
Coniferous resin - 100g, unsalted pork lard - 100g, natural beeswax - 100g. Put everything in a saucepan. If the resin is dry, grind it into powder. Boil over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring the mixture all the time, removing foam from the surface. Remove from heat. When the mixture becomes warm, transfer it to glass jar. Store the ointment in the refrigerator.
Rinse the wound with lime water (1 tablespoon of quicklime per 1 liter of water; let it brew for 5-6 hours, drain the water). Spread a thin layer of a cloth with the prepared mixture, apply it to the sore spot and bandage it. Change the bandage after 1-2 days. Wounds heal quickly.
Make a mixture of spruce resin, wax, honey and sunflower oil (one part by weight of each component). Heat the mixture over heat and cool. Use externally for abrasions, abscesses, and ulcers.
Mix fir resin, wax and butter in equal quantities. This ointment gives a good effect for boils.

In the forest, on a hike, one of the excellent remedies for wounds and cuts is fresh resin. Lubricate wounds, ulcers, cracks daily. Healing occurs quickly.
For skin diseases, gout, joint damage of rheumatic origin, take baths from spruce branches and buds.
To do this, prepare a decoction from the tops of young branches with buds (the ratio of plant materials and water is 1:5, boil for 30-40 minutes). The resulting decoction is added to the bath.

Fir cones are boiled with salt (100g of salt per 1 bucket of decoction). The resulting decoction is added to baths for joint pain of various origins and arthritis. Instead of cones, you can use freshly cut branches.
Tibetan medicine values ​​pine needles as a means of treating burns and long-healing wounds, tree sap for diarrhea, and wood ash as an antidote.
For tuberculosis, it is good to use a vodka tincture of young shoots.
A combined preparation of spruce, fir and pine needles has a sedative effect and increases performance.

Pour winter trimmed pine needles (4 cups) with 3 cups of cooled boiled water, acidify with 2 teaspoons of diluted hydrochloric acid. Leave for 3 days in a dark place, strain. Drink 1/2 cup of vitamin infusion 2 times a day, sweeten to taste.
They make jam from pine needles with sugar and drink tea with it for shortness of breath.
Spruce resin-resin - 20g, ground onion (crushed) - 1 piece, vegetable oil, preferably olive - 50 g, powdered copper sulfate - 15 g. Everything is thoroughly ground and heated over fire, without bringing to a boil.
The ointment has a burning effect and actively treats abscesses, bruises and bone fractures.

If pus is flowing from the ear, it is recommended to pour spruce or pine juice into it.
Five tablespoons of spruce, pine or fir needles, pour 0.5 liters of water, boil for 5 minutes. and leave overnight in a warm place. This infusion promotes the removal of radionuclides. Give patients something to drink throughout the day instead of water. A day off, then treatment again. You can alternate drinking ordinary water and pine decoction for a month (it is better to use melt water instead of ordinary water).
Fill the pan with young shoots of spruce, pour cold water, put on fire, bring to a boil, cook for 10 minutes. Leave in a warm place overnight, strain in the morning. Store the drink in the refrigerator, but drink it warm, 0.5 cups several times a day.
Brew fir branches collected in September with boiling water: 1 tablespoon of chopped branches per 1 cup of boiling water. Drink a decoction instead of tea, 0.5 cups a day for uterine polyps.
According to Raphael, spruce is ruled by Saturn and is healing for those born under the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius.

Picea abies
Taxon: family Pine ( Pinaceae).
Other names: Norway spruce
English: Norway Spruce, Christmas Tree

Description

Spruce- an elegant, slender evergreen tree up to 30-50 m high from the pine family. The crown of the tree has the shape of a regular narrow cone and descends almost to the ground. The top of the spruce is always sharp, it never becomes dull. A spruce grows tall and slender only when the topmost bud of the tree blooms normally every year and gives rise to a new shoot. If the apical bud of a young spruce tree is damaged or the shoot on which it is located is cut off, the appearance of the tree changes dramatically. The growth of the main trunk stops, the lateral branches closest to the top gradually rise upward. As a result, instead of a tall and slender tree, you get a short and ugly one. The spruce trunk is covered with flaky brownish-gray bark. The branches are arranged in whorls. The needles are needle-shaped, oblate-tetrahedral, dark green, shiny, 2-3 cm long, kept on the branches for 6-12 years. The needles of spruce are much shorter than those of pine. The lifespan of spruce needles is longer than that of pine needles. In spring, spruce, like pine, has male and female cones on its branches. This happens around the time when the bird cherry blossoms. Spruce- a monoecious plant, male spikelets are located in the lower part of the shoots in the axils of the needles. Female cones are elongated-cylindrical, young ones are bright red, late ones are green, in a mature state they are brown, up to 15 cm long. Pollen ripens in the male cone spikelets, resembling a fine yellow powder. Spruce dusts very abundantly. Pollen is carried far around by the wind and settles on various objects. It is noticeable even on the leaves of forest grasses. Spruce cones, which ripen in the first year, are formed by spirally arranged covering scales, in the axils of which there are two ovules, from which seeds develop after fertilization. The seeds are dark brown with wings, similar to pine seeds. Having fallen out of the cone, they spin in the same way in the air like a propeller. Their rotation is very fast, and their fall is slower. Seeds carried by the wind can fly quite far away from the mother tree. Seed dispersal occurs at the end of winter, on dry sunny days.
Unlike pine, spruce is shade-tolerant. Its lower branches do not die off and are preserved, which is why it is dark and damp in spruce forests. Spruce has a much smaller root system than pine and is located in top layer soil, so the tree is unstable and often strong winds knock it to the ground.
Spruce grows well under the canopy of pine, birch, and oak. She, like other shade-tolerant trees, has a thick, dense crown that allows little light to pass through.
One of the characteristics of spruce is its sensitivity to late spring frosts. The return of cold weather in the spring destroys its young, newly emerged, not yet strong shoots. Young fir trees damaged by frost can sometimes be seen at the beginning of summer somewhere in the open (in a clearing, in a large clearing in the middle of a forest, etc.). Some of their needles are green and old, but the young shoots are withered and brown, as if scorched by fire.
In spruce, like in pine, the annual rings of wood are clearly visible on the cross section of the trunk. Some growth rings are wider, others are narrower. The width of the annual ring largely depends on the environmental conditions in which the tree grows (temperature, humidity, light, nutrient supply, etc.). How better conditions, the wider the ring. In years with particularly favorable weather conditions for the tree, the rings are especially wide. Since spruce creates very strong shading, only fairly shade-tolerant plants can exist under its canopy. There are usually few shrubs in a spruce forest; the soil is covered with a continuous green carpet of mosses, against which a few taiga grasses and dense thickets of blueberries grow (this type of forest is called a spruce-blueberry forest). Where the soil is better supplied with nutrients and sufficiently drained, as a rule, a continuous cover of wood sorrel develops - a small herbaceous plant with trifoliate leaves, like clover (this type of forest is called spruce-wood sorrel). On soils, especially poor and very damp ones, a continuous rather thick carpet of cuckoo flax moss is spread under the spruce trees (the name of such a forest is a long-spruce forest).
In a spruce forest, due to strong shading, the shoots of almost all tree species quickly die. However, the regrowth of the spruce tree itself persists for a very long time under these conditions. However, he looks very depressed. The trees are smaller than a person, similar in shape to an umbrella, their crown seems to be flattened, very loose. Living branches are very thin, with sparse short needles, the stem is like a ski pole. If you cut off such a stem at the bottom with a sharp knife, then in the cross section you can see unusually narrow growth rings, almost indistinguishable to the naked eye. They can only be seen with a strong magnifying glass. The reason for this is the fact that in deep shade the tree produces almost no organic matter, and therefore cannot produce much wood.
Spruce sprouts are almost the same as those of pine. They are quite rare in the forest. This is explained by the fact that the thin, weak root of a germinating seed is often unable to “break through” a thick layer of dry fallen needles. But many seedlings occur where this obstacle does not exist - on rotten tree trunks lying on the ground, on rotten stumps, on recently exposed areas of soil, etc.

Spreading

The area of ​​natural distribution of common spruce in our country is almost the entire northern half of the European part. In the northernmost regions of this territory, as well as in the Urals and Siberia, a closely related species, Siberian spruce (Picca obovata), grows. Spruce occupies 10% of the forest area, forming spruce forests and is part of mixed forests, one of the most common tree species. In the European part of the country, spruce does not spread far to the south, as it is quite moisture-loving. To the east of the Urals it is replaced by a related species - Siberian spruce, in the Caucasus - by oriental spruce.

Growing

Spruce propagates by seeds. This tree cannot grow in climates that are too dry. Spruce also does not tolerate dry soil. In this respect, it is much more demanding than pine, which grows well on very dry sands. Spruce is more demanding than pine in terms of soil fertility. It does not grow in extremely nutrient-poor high-moor (sphagnum) bogs.

Collection and preparation

Needles, immature cones, and young tops of spruce branches are used as medicinal raw materials. The cones are collected in the summer before the seeds ripen and dried on racks under a canopy.

Chemical composition

Essential oils, resins, tannins, phytoncides, and minerals were found in the cones. Spruce needles contain ascorbic acid (200-400 mg/%) and the same substances as cones.

Use of spruce in medicine

A decoction and infusion of cones is used for diseases of the upper respiratory tract and bronchial asthma, pine needles as an anti-scurvy agent, especially in winter. The needles also have a diuretic and antimicrobial effect. It is recommended for diseases of the kidneys and bladder. IN folk medicine A decoction of buds and young cones is used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, scurvy, dropsy, and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system.

Medications

Infusion of spruce needles: 20-25 g of crushed needles are brewed with boiling water (1:5), boiled for 10 minutes, then infused for 10 minutes, this dose is taken during the day. This infusion is drunk for scurvy and respiratory diseases.
A decoction of spruce cones. The cones are crushed, poured with water (1:5), boiled for half an hour, the resulting decoction is gargled and dripped into the nose. Bath infusion. The paws are boiled with salt, and the resulting decoction is added to baths for joint pain of various origins.
The spruce forest is clean, but it has a depressing effect on a person who has little contact with it, although the spruce is a donor tree, not a vampire, but when there are many donors nearby, they have a bad effect on each other.

Use on the farm

Spruce is widely used in the national economy. Large quantities of its wood are used, for example, to make paper. Spruce wood is used to produce cellulose, artificial silk and much more; it is widely used in construction. Spruce wood is an indispensable material for the manufacture of some musical instruments (for example, the tops of violins are made from it, etc.).
Spruce is also an important supplier of tannins, which are necessary for tanning leather. These substances in our country are obtained mainly from spruce bark. Our other plants as sources of tannins are of much less importance (the bark of oak, willow, larch, rhizome of the herbaceous plant bergenia, etc. is used).

A little history

Spruce is not only Christmas tree. It is constantly used to accompany a person on his last journey. Spruce branches are placed under the coffin, and wreaths are made from spruce branches. This tree is both festive and mournful. Phytoncides from pine needles disinfect the room and drive out “evil spirits.” It is believed that when a body is removed from the house with the help of fir branches, all the bad things that sent a person on his last journey are removed, the spruce eases the suffering of his soul, which has not yet had time to finally part with the body - this will take 40 days. Fir branches lying on the grave help ease the soul of the deceased.
Sometimes healers and witches, reading conspiracies, as if to strengthen, enhance the effect, burn a small sprig of spruce in an iron bowl and see how the ashes are arranged, in what form - promising or not.

Photos and illustrations

Spruce belongs to the genus Picea (resinous plants) of the pine family. It is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle to the south. About 50 species of spruce are known, their photos and descriptions can be found on this page.

In the European part, up to 10 species of spruce grow, and there are a great variety of them. But mainly five types of decorative spruce trees are used in landscaping.

This crop is a monoecious evergreen tree with a cone-shaped crown, gray bark and dense needles. The root system is superficial. The virtues of all decorative forms spruce trees is that they form a crown naturally and do not need pruning.

Common spruce is a tree up to 40 m tall with a trunk up to 1-1.5 m in diameter. The crown is cone-shaped, with distant or drooping branches, rising at the end, and remains sharp until the end of life.

bark common spruce reddish brown
The bark of the common spruce is gray

The bark of the common form of spruce is reddish-brown or gray, smooth or fissured, of varying degrees and nature of fissuring, and relatively thin.

spruce shoots
spruce shoots

The shoots are light brown or rusty yellow, glabrous. Buds are 4-5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, ovoid-cone-shaped, pointed at the apex, light brown; their scales are bluntly triangular, light or reddish brown.

Spruce needles
Spruce needles

The needles are 8-20 mm long, 1-1.8 mm wide, tetrahedral in shape, have a sharp apex, with 2-4 stomatal lines on each side, dark green, shiny; the needles last 6-7 (up to 10-12) years.

Spruce cones
Spruce cones

The cones are 10-16 cm long and 3-4 cm thick, oblong-ovate, initially light green or dark purple, brown when mature. The seed scales are obovate, slightly longitudinally folded, convex, notched along the upper edge, sometimes truncated.

Spruce seeds
Spruce seeds

The seeds are 2-5 mm long, brown or dark brown, with a light brown wing that is about 3 times larger than the seed. The seeds open and disperse in the second half of winter.

Spruce
Spruce

Lives in nature for 250-300 years. The annual growth is 50 cm in height and 15 cm in width. Up to 10-15 years it grows slowly, then quickly.

Grows wildly in Europe and Asia. Very demanding on soil moisture and composition. Does not tolerate sandy loam. It grows satisfactorily only in low areas. Very sensitive to air pollution.

All varieties of common spruce are not plants for the garden. It is attractive only in at a young age, and over the years it loses its decorative effect, stretches out, and thins out. Various forms of common spruce, having bushy, spherical, and weeping crowns, are valuable.

It is better to use decorative forms of this spruce in the garden: below are the names and descriptions of the most popular of them.

Spruce "Echiniformis" in the photo

"Echiniformis" (spinate). Dwarf, slow-growing form, reaching 20 cm in height and 40 cm in width. This variety of common spruce has a cushion-shaped crown, unevenly developed in different sides. The shoots are light brown, glabrous, slightly shiny, hard, and relatively thick. Annual growth is 15-20 mm. The buds are light brown, large, cylindrical, rounded.

As you can see in the photo, this variety of common spruce has yellow-green to gray-green needles, the lower needles are flat with a short sharp tip, the upper ones are star-shaped, located under the terminal cone:

Varieties of common spruce
Varieties of common spruce

Spruce "Compacta" in the photo

"Compact". Dwarf form, usually about 1.5-2 m tall. Old plants sometimes reach 6 m in height with the same crown width. The shoots are numerous, short, raised and brown in the upper part of the crown. The needles are about 9 mm long, shorter towards the top of the shoot, shiny, green.

"Nidiformis" (nest-shaped). Dwarf form, slightly higher than 1 m, wide, dense. The crown is cushion-shaped, flattened, which is obtained in the form of a nest due to the shoots growing obliquely from the middle of the plant and the absence of main branches. The branches grow evenly, fan-shaped and trumpet-shaped. There are numerous shoots. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. The needles are light green, flat, with 1-2 stomatal lines, which are hallmark, 7-10 mm long. Very effective for low borders, in small groups created on parterres and rock gardens. Currently one of the most common dwarf forms.

Here you can see photos of varieties ordinary type spruce trees, the names of which are given above:

Varieties of Norway spruce
Varieties of Norway spruce

Canadian spruce in the photo

Canadian spruce– a tree 20-35 m tall, with a trunk 60-120 cm in diameter, with a dense regular cone-shaped dense crown. The branches of young plants are directed upward, while those of old ones are mostly downward and flat.

The bark is smooth or scaly, ash-brown. Young shoots are yellowish or whitish-light brown, glabrous. Buds up to 6 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, almost spherical, non-resinous; their scales are blunt-ovoid, light brown, shiny.

The needles are 8-18 mm long, about 1.5 mm wide, tetrahedral, bluish-green, densely spaced and rather hard, slightly curved, smell quite sharp when rubbed, the needles last up to 11 years.

Look at the photo - this type of decorative spruce has ovoid-cylindrical cones, up to 7 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm thick, light green until ripe, mature - light brown:

Decorative spruce cones
Decorative spruce cones

The seed scales are thin and elastic, solid along the upper edge.

The seeds are 2-3 mm long, light brown, with an orange-brown wing 3 times the length of the seed. The cones ripen in September.

Winter-hardy and quite drought-resistant. Lives up to 300-500 years.

All varieties of Canadian spruce are recommended for single and group plantings; dwarf forms are promising for rocky hills. It grows successfully in both maritime and continental climates. Quite drought resistant. Not picky about soils, tolerates poor and sandy soils. It resists winds well and is used as a windproof. Less sensitive to gases and smoke than European spruce.

Currently, about 20 decorative forms of this type of spruce have been described; you can find a description of the most popular of them below.

Spruce "Konika" in the photo

The most amazing variety - "Konica". If everyone knows the blue spruce, then the other Christmas tree, which dendrologists briefly call “konica”, i.e. conical, still rare.

"Konica" is a mutation of Canada spruce, native to the east North America. It differs from its ancestor not only in its miniature size, its height rarely exceeds 2 m, but also in its surprisingly dense crown cone and soft light green needles.

By the middle of the last century, the Canadian spruce variety “Konica” conquered the whole world, settling in the gardens of countries with a temperate climate and developed ornamental gardening.

Its real discovery in Russia occurred only relatively recently, along with the rapid development of ornamental gardening, when Konika seedlings began to come to us in large quantities from Holland, Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries of Western Europe, where its propagation has long been established. "Konica" propagates exclusively by cuttings, as it does not bear fruit.

In central Russia it is quite winter-hardy. But in urban conditions it is less stable than prickly spruce. With strong gas pollution, the decorativeness of the Christmas tree is reduced.

It grows slowly, which is an advantage in garden design. At five years old, the Christmas tree reaches a height of 20 cm and already at this age its decorative properties are strikingly superior to even-aged seedlings of common spruce. By the age of ten, “Konika” reaches an average height of 80 cm and is completely decorative. And by the age of 20, its height is usually 150 cm, the diameter at the base is about a meter.

“Konica” should be planted in open places, protected from cold winds, with cultivated, light loamy soil. Caring for it may be limited to watering during dry periods.

The development of the Christmas tree, and therefore its decorativeness, is facilitated by periodic surface loosening and mulching of the tree trunk circle with rotted organic matter. Mulching is best done in early autumn, and in spring the mulch should be incorporated shallowly into the soil.

In favorable conditions, "Konika" retains its high decorative value until old age. It does not need pruning or shaping. Like the blue spruce, it is designed to play the role of tapeworm in decoration and is simply a godsend for a small garden.

This Christmas tree fits well into large rock gardens, it is desirable in the background of flower arrangements, and harmoniously combines with other low conifers. Looks especially elegant on the lawn. At the same time, it is advisable to plant it in an even row of three or more plants or in a group of several Christmas trees.

Among other decorative forms, “Aurea” is known, characterized by strong growth. The needles on the upper side are golden in color.

Spruce "Aureaspicata"
Spruce "Aureaspicata"

"Aureaspicata". The form is distinguished by the yellow color of the needles and young shoots, which persists only in summer, but later they turn green.

"Elegance Compacta". The crown is conical, but the growth is stronger than that of "Konika", young shoots and buds are yellow-brown, the needles are fresh green, 8-10 mm long, annual growth is 5-4 cm.

"Nana" (low). Dwarf form up to 1-2 m high. The crown is wide, rounded. The branches are dense, numerous, unevenly spaced, gray, very flexible. Annual growth is 2.5-4.5 cm.

Pay attention to the photo - this variety of Canadian spruce has radial needles, 5-7 mm long, thin, hard, gray-blue:

Canadian spruce needles
Canadian spruce needles

The culture is winter-hardy. Propagated by cuttings.

"Pendula"- weeping form, has strongly drooping branches, branches abundantly, needles are densely located on the branches, bluish-green.

Among the forms with blue needles worthy of attention:

Spruce "Alberta Blue"
Spruce "Arenson Blue"

"Alberta Blue", "Arenson Blue",

Spruce "Cerulea"
Spruce "Sunder Blue"

"Cerulea", "Sunder Blue".

All of them have dwarf growth and retain the color of their needles well in open sunny places: alpine hills, heather gardens. They are suitable for growing in containers.

Speaking about what rare types of spruce there are, it is worth mentioning the Engelmann and Schrenk forms.

Engelman spruce in the photo

Engelman spruce- native to North America. In terms of the slenderness of the crown, this is the most decorative spruce. The tree amazes with its grace and healthy appearance. Even the very lower branches are never bare. It is very resistant to unfavorable urban conditions and soil and climatic influences. When describing Engelmann spruce, it is definitely worth mentioning its qualities such as winter hardiness, shade tolerance and drought resistance.

It has many decorative forms that are widely used in landscaping.

Spruce "Glauka" in the photo

Most Popular "Glauka" (gray). Tree 20-40 m tall, with a dense cone-shaped crown, without a clear horizontal layering of branches. The needles are less prickly, more flexible and less spaced than those of prickly spruce, bluish-blue; the color is especially clear in early spring.

As you can see in the photo, the Engelmann spruce needles in winter are not so attractive, but still decorative:

Engelman spruce
Engelman spruce

Grows quickly. Winter-hardy. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, grafting. Recommended for single, group and alley plantings in large gardens.

Schrenk's spruce, or Tien Shan, is a powerful tree with a narrow cone-shaped crown, a sharp top and branches hanging to the ground. The needles are light green or bluish. Light-loving, not demanding on soils, but moisture-loving and low frost-resistant.

Look at the photo - this type of spruce has high decorative qualities, which makes it desirable in garden compositions, A slow growth in the first years of life allows you to form dense hedges from it:

Spruce in the form of a hedge
Spruce in the form of a hedge

It has a spherical shape - a tree up to 1.8 m tall with a rounded crown.

Prickly spruce in the photo

Prickly spruce. Among the numerous representatives of the genus, it stands out for its slenderness and beauty, undemandingness to growing conditions, frost resistance and resistance to air pollution, surpassing many of its brethren in this indicator.

Decorative at any time of the year. The most valuable evergreen tree up to 25 m, lives up to 100 years.

The crown is pyramidal. The branches form regular dense tiers, horizontal or hanging under different angles. Particularly beautiful are specimens in which the branches are evenly spaced in regular tiers around the trunk from the very ground to the top.

The needles are prickly, their color varies from green to light blue, silver, up to 2.5 cm long. Under good growing conditions, the needles live 5-7 years, more often 3-4 years.

The breed is considered resistant to dust and smoke, but in urban conditions it must be washed with water at least 5 times a month. Photophilous. It is demanding on soil fertility and moisture, but does not tolerate overly fertile soil or waterlogging.

Tolerates pruning well. Propagated by seeds and grafting.

It is recommended to plant some distance from roads and industrial enterprises, against the backdrop of a lawn, preferably in illuminated areas. Usually single specimens or small groups are planted in the front places of the garden. It is especially good in combination with Serbian spruce, pseudo-hemlock, plain fir, etc.

Popular forms of prickly spruce are described below:

Spruce "Argentea"
Spruce "Argentea"

"Argentea" (silver). A straight-trunked tree 30-40 m tall with a cone-shaped crown and clearly spaced horizontal branches. The needles are silvery-white, a light waxy coating remains on old plants, young needles have a soft green color with a whitish tint. Widely used in landscaping, in single and group plantings;

Spruce "Glauka"
Spruce "Glauka"

"Glauka" (gray). It differs from the main species in its bluish-green needles, which retain their color throughout the year. The lifespan of needles of this variety of prickly spruce is 3-10 years, depending on conditions. Plant height is 20 m. Annual growth is more than 30 cm. The crown is symmetrical, cone-shaped. The shoots reach the ground and are arranged in tiers almost horizontally. Branches do not break under the weight of wet snow. Suitable for creating large arrays, small clumps, for single plantings;

Spruce "Glauka Globoza" in the photo

"Glauca Globosa" (blue spherical). Dwarf form up to 1 m tall and up to 1.5 m in diameter. Young shoots are yellowish-brownish and thin. The crown is rounded, dense only in old age.

Pay attention to the photo - this variety of prickly spruce has thick, slightly crescent-shaped, blue-white needles, about 1 cm long and 1 mm thick:

Prickly needles
Prickly needles

"Hoopsie." The height of the tree is 12-15 m, the diameter of the crown is 3-4.5 m. The crown is evenly branched, very dense. The annual growth is 12-20 cm, the branches are horizontally spaced from the trunk. The shoots are light red-brown, the apical buds are ovoid, 1 cm long. Scales are short, bent. The needles are needle-shaped, hard, sharp, bluish-white, 2-3 cm long, directed forward, thick, last 4-6 years.

"Bonfire". Tree 10-15 m tall, with drooping weeping branches. The crown diameter is 4-5 m. The needles are slightly crescent-shaped, bluish-green with a light waxy coating, thin, crescent-shaped, short, 20-25 mm long. The silver-blue color of the needles remains in winter. Young shoots are orange-brown. The trunks are bent. One of the most famous blue forms of prickly spruce. The crown is evenly developed, conical. Recommended for solitary and group plantings near houses, for decorating ceremonial places.

"Moerhaimi." Strongly and unevenly growing, narrow-conical shape. The needles are 20-30 mm long, adjacent. In the second year it becomes an intense silvery blue.

As you can see in the photo, the color of the needles of this variety of prickly spruce does not change in winter:

Spruce in winter
Spruce in winter

The branches are short and horizontal. The apical bud is 10-15 mm long, blunt, yellow-brown. The lateral buds are very different and are located spirally below the apical bud. The scales at the apex are strongly deflected.

"Moll". Dwarf form, grows slowly. At 20 years of age, the height is about 1 m. The annual growth is 3-5 cm, the crown is broadly conical and very densely branched. The shoots are yellow-brown. The needles are beautiful, bluish-white, 10-15 mm long and 1 mm thick.

"Montgomery." Dwarf form, slow-growing, very squat, at 35 years of age the height and diameter of the crown is 1.8 m, annual growth is about 6 cm, shoots are yellow-brown, buds are ovoid, yellow-brown, scales are bent. The needles are 18-20 mm long, gray-blue, sharp.

"Oldenburg". Tree 10-15 (20) m high, with a crown diameter of 5-7 m. The crown is conical. The bark is brownish-gray, flaky, the shoots are orange-brown.

The photo shows that this variety of prickly spruce has needle-shaped, dense, hard, prickly, steel-blue needles:

Prickly spruce
Prickly spruce

It stays very firmly on the branches. Grows quickly. Annual growth is 30-35 cm in height, 15 cm in width. Photophilous. It is undemanding to soils, but grows better on chernozems and loams and tolerates temporary excess moisture. Frost-resistant, tolerates frost well. Application: single plantings, groups.

In this section of the article you can see photos and descriptions of the blue spruce species from the Pine family.

Blue spruce in the photo

The blue spruce tree is an evergreen coniferous tree, 25-30 m high, rarely up to 46 meters. The trunk diameter is up to 1.5 meters. The bark is thin and scaly. The crown is narrow-conical in young trees, and becomes cylindrical in old ones. The needles are 15-30 mm long, rhombic in cross-section. The needles of blue spruce deserve a special description - the color of the needles of this plant species ranges from grayish-green to bright blue.

The crown is conical, compact, the needles are tetrahedral, dense, very prickly. The bark of the trunks and branches is grayish-brown, initially smooth, later fissured.

On the picture

Decorative blue spruce cones are slightly cylindrical, 6-11 cm long and 2 cm wide when closed, up to 4 cm when open. The color of the cones is from reddish to purple, the mature cone is light brown. The seeds are black, 3-4 mm long with a light brown wing 10-13 mm long.

Look at the photo - blue spruce has cylindrical cones, up to 9 cm long, light brown, ripen in the first year:

Decorative blue spruce cones
Decorative blue spruce cones

Blue spruce is one of the hardiest spruce trees in all respects. It is inferior to common spruce only in shade tolerance. But it is extremely resistant to atmospheric pollution, frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and very unpretentious to soil conditions.

However, the best development and more decorative effect Blue spruce reaches its species on fertile structural loams, in full light.

This tree has a pronounced root core, which makes it drought-resistant. And yet, in the first 6-8 years, seedlings should be watered 2-3 times during the summer, and in case of drought, be sure to water them at least once a week. This will allow the trees to grow stronger. The greatest increases in height in blue spruce plants are observed after 8-10 years. And by 20-25 years the trees are already fully formed. The first cones can sometimes be seen on 15-year-old trees.

Up to the age of 8-10 years trunk circle It is better to keep it under black fallow, mulching with humus. In the future, the land should not be cultivated, and care consists only of periodic mulching and watering during prolonged drought.

Blue spruce
Blue spruce

As can be seen from the photo and description of the blue spruce, this beauty will decorate your garden for many years. She is an excellent tapeworm who does not need anyone's company. Looks good alone or in a group on a flat lawn. When creating groups, spruce trees should not be planted closer than 3 m from each other, so that there is no shading and the trees have low, dense crowns.

These photos show blue spruce varieties that are most popular among gardeners:

Blue spruce
Blue spruce

Healing properties of spruce

Spruce is not only an ornamental, but also a useful plant in the garden and on personal plots.

The healing properties of spruce are well known. Moreover, the common spruce is recognized as the leader in this regard among all species. The needles, young shoots and young cones are medicinal. They are rich in essential and tannin substances, resins, vitamins, microelements, phytoncides and fatty oils.

Various inflammatory diseases of the respiratory and urinary tract, as well as sinusitis and other diseases in the nasopharynx area are treated with spruce preparations and decoctions. Baths made from spruce branches and buds are used for skin diseases, gout, arthritis and arthrosis.

Brewing from fresh spruce buds can be consumed as a vitamin tea, which is contraindicated for stomach ulcers. The simplest infusion is prepared by roughly grinding 40 g of pine needles, pouring a glass of boiling water over it, boiling for 20 minutes, then infusing. The resulting infusion is drunk during the day if there is a lack of vitamin C.

Spruce needles contain significant quantities of phosphorus, potassium, iron, and vitamins. It is especially rich in ascorbic acid and carotene, which makes pine needles an excellent raw material for the production of special preventive pastes for scurvy and periodontal disease, pine extracts for baths and medicinal chlorophyll-carotene preparations.

Camphor is obtained from the essential oil of spruce, which is indispensable for heart ailments. Inhalations of essential oil of pine needles cure catarrhal conditions of the throat and bronchi.

The ecological significance of spruce is also important. Air pollution, especially urban air pollution, currently exceeds all existing standards. The needles take on a filtering role in gas exchange atmospheric air. Dust particles along with harmful microorganisms settle and become fixed in the waxy coating of pine needles.

Air saturated with coniferous secretions has a beneficial effect on the body, improving breathing and blood circulation, and even heals a sick human psyche.

Phytoncides released by pine needles help clean the air even in polluted places. At the same time, the spruce itself feels good. It has straight trunks, dense foliage, and low-hanging crowns.

Common spruce, or European spruce - P. abies (L.) H. Karst. (P. excelsa Link)

Description: homeland - Europe. Mountains of Western Europe, forest zone of the European part of Russia (up to the Urals). Forms pure or mixed forests. Protected in nature reserves. In the North-West of Russia it is a species of local flora. In old parks in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, individual trees reach 36-40 m in height. However, it can be sensitive to early spring frosts, especially in depressions and micro-depressions of the relief and in closed clearings.

Picea abies "Acrocona Pusch" Photo of Uspensky Igor	Picea abies "Elegans" Photo by Kirill Tkachenko	Picea abies "Daisi White" Photo by Natalia Shishunova
"Formanek" Photo EDSR	Picea abies compacta "Fridache" Photo by Elena Kozhina	Picea abies "Glauca Prostrata"
Picea abies "Hiiumaa" Photo of Svetlana Polonskaya	Picea abies "Jana" Photo of Elena Arkhipova	Picea abies "Effusa" Photo by Kirill Tkachenko
Picea abies "Luua" Photo by Alexander Zhukov	Picea abies "Luua Parl" Photo of Natalia Pavlova	Picea abies "Perry's Gold" Photo of Svetlana Polonskaya
Picea abies "Praga" Photo by Elena Kozhina	Picea abies "Rickii" Photo by Olga Bondareva	Picea abies "Rickii" Photo Natalia Shishunova
Picea abies "Emsland" Photo by Alexander Zhukov	Picea abies "Sherwood Compact" Photo Golubitskaya Lyubov Fedorovna	Picea abies "Soneberg" Photo of Shakhmanova Tatyana
Picea abies "Tompa" Photo of Svetlana Polonskaya	Picea abies "Witch's Brood" Photo by Oleg Vasiliev	Picea abies "Woldbrund" Photo of Uspensky Igor
Picea abies "Pasmas" Photo by Konstantin Korzhavin	Picea abies "Motala" Photo by Konstantin Korzhavin	Picea abies "Edelbaur" Photo by Andrey Ganov

Tree up to 30-35 (-50) m high. with a trunk up to 1-1.5 m in diameter. The crown is cone-shaped, with distant or drooping branches, rising at the end, and remains sharp until the end of life. The bark is reddish-brown or gray, smooth or fissured, of varying degrees and nature of fissuring, relatively thin. The shoots are light brown or rusty yellow, glabrous. Buds are 4-5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, ovoid-cone-shaped, pointed at the apex, light brown; their scales are bluntly triangular, light or reddish brown. The needles are 8-20 mm long, 1 - 1.8 mm wide, tetrahedral in shape, gradually pointed to a sharp apex, with 2-4 stomatal lines on each side, dark green, shiny; the needles last 6-7 (up to 10-12) years. Cones 10-16 cm long. and 3-4 cm thick, oblong-ovate, initially light green or dark purple, brown when mature. The seed scales are obovate, slightly longitudinally folded, convex, notched along the upper edge, gnawed-toothed, sometimes truncated. Seeds are 2-5 mm long, brown or dark brown, with a light brown wing about 3 times larger. The seeds open and disperse in the second half of winter. Lives 250-300 years, occasionally 400-500 years. The annual growth is 50 cm in height and 15 cm in width. Up to 10-15 years it grows slowly, then quickly.

In Europe in culture for centuries, in the British Isles it has been known since approximately 1500.

In GBS since 1947, 11 samples (350 copies) were obtained from seedlings from the Naro-Fominsk forestry enterprise of the Golyanovsky forestry (Moscow region), Penza, Kislovodsk, Rostock (Germany), Glasgow (England), Finland. Tree, at 33 years old, height 17.3 m, trunk diameter 24.5/29.0 cm. Vegetation from 27.IV ± 10. Grows slowly in youth. Dust with 11.V ± 3 (very weak). The seeds ripen in late October or early November, but there are few of them and they have low viability. Winter hardiness is high. Summer cuttings treated with a 0.01% IBA solution for 24 hours do not root. It is often found in the landscaping of Moscow.

It is of primary importance in forestry, where one of the most important species has been cultivated for a long time. As a park tree, it plays an essential role in parks converted from natural forest. Widely used in hedges, as a snow-protective species in forest belts along railways and highways. More than 120 garden forms are known that can satisfy the most varied tastes of amateur gardeners and landscape architects.

Norway spruce is heterogeneous in appearance, which is due to different types of its branching. These types are inherited, and the most decorative of them are isolated, given specific names and widely introduced into culture.

The following types of branching are distinguished: comb- branches of the first order are horizontal, of the second - thin, comb-like, hanging down; irregularly combed- branches of the second order are located incorrectly comb-like; compact- branches of the first order are relatively horizontal, of medium length, densely covered with short branched branches of the second order; flat- branches of the first order are horizontally widely branched; brush-like- branches of the first order have short thick branches, with small branches hanging from them like a brush.

In addition to the above, the most commonly used decorative forms are:

Picea abies "Acrocona" Photo of Uspensky Igor "Akrokona" ("Asrosopa"). The variety was introduced to Finland in 1890. Tree height is 2 - 3 m, crown diameter is 2 - 4 m, the crown is wide-conical. The bark when young is brownish, smooth, later reddish-brown, scaly-rough. The needles are needle-shaped, square-edged, pointed, 1-2 cm long, 0.1 cm thick, dark green. Retains on branches for 6 - 12 years. Blooms in May. Male cones are reddish-yellow, female cones are bright purple. The cones are cylindrical, large. Immature cones are bright, red, mature ones are light brown or reddish-brown, hanging down. The annual growth is 10 cm in height and 8 cm in width. It grows slowly. Shade-tolerant, at a young age it can suffer from spring sunburn. Prefers fresh, well-drained, acidic, sandy and loamy soils, does not tolerate stagnation of water, salinity and dry soil - Frost-resistant, but at a young age it can suffer from spring frosts. The cones look exceptionally beautiful. Application: in single plantings, groups, alleys.

Picea abies "Aurea" "Aurea" ("Aigea"). The height of the tree is usually up to 10 m. The branches are horizontal. The needles are shiny, yellowish-white, easily burnt in the sun, but in the shade the needles remain pale. Frost-resistant. It is found in culture in Ukraine. Belarus, Lithuania, recently brought to Russia. Recommended for group plantings "Aurea Magnifica", Golden Magnificent("Aigea Magnifica"). Low-growing form, bush-like, up to 3 m in height. Shoots are horizontal and raised above the ground. The needles are light yellow-golden, orange-yellow in winter. One of the most beautiful yellow-colored forms of common spruce. Obtained in 1899 in Boskop. Beautiful golden form. Propagated by grafting, cuttings. Recommended for single and group plantings in gardens, as well as in rock gardens.

Picea abies "Barry" Photo on the right of Konstantin Korzhavin Photo on the left of Polonskaya Svetlana "Berry" ("Barryi"). Strong, powerful dwarf form. Young plants have rounded crown. By old age, the branches grow unevenly in different directions and become quite long and raised. Young shoots are orange-brown, with large buds at the ends surrounded by needles. The needles are shiny, dark green, about 10 mm long, blunt, directed forward and upward. Widely known in culture since 1891. Not yet found in Russia.

Picea abies "Clanbrassiliana" Photo by Kirill Tkachenko "Clanbrassiliana" ("Clanbrassiliana"). Dwarf form, by appearance resembles a wasp's nest. Old plants are about 1.5 m high, rarely 2 m. The shoots are thin and curved. The annual growth is 2-5 cm. The shoots are light, gray-brown above, white, like cream, to greenish-white, shiny, bare below. There are varieties with long needles on powerful shoots and with short needles on weak shoots. The buds are acutely ovate, 4-5 mm long. There are only 2 - 3 lateral buds, long, red-brown, shiny, very resinous in winter and then gray. Apical buds 1 - 3 The needles are almost radially spaced, about 5-10 mm long, shiny, light green, densely covering the shoots, in the middle the needles are the widest, thickest, flat in cross-section, keeled, in the upper half long and sharp, fragile tip. It is recommended to remove old branches to make the plants look more impressive. The oldest plant has been known since 1780, it was discovered near Belfast (Northern Ireland), brought by Lord Clanbrassilian to his Tollymore estate. This plant has survived to this day and has a height of 3 m. Currently, the form is widely cultivated in Europe, but is not always correctly named. It is advisable to try this form in Russia.

Picea abies "Columnaris" Photo by Kirill Tkachenko "Columnaris" ("Columnaris"). Tree with a columnar crown. Height up to 15 m, crown diameter up to 1.5 m. The bark when young is brownish, smooth, then reddish-brown, scaly-rough. The needles are needle-shaped, tetrahedral, pointed, 1-2 cm long, 0.1 cm thick, dark green. Stores on branches for 6-12 years. It grows slowly. Shade-tolerant. At a young age, he may suffer from spring sunburn. Prefers fresh, well-drained, acidic sandy and loamy soils, does not tolerate stagnant water, salinity and dry soil. Frost-resistant, but at a young age it can suffer from spring frosts. Application: single plantings, groups, alleys.

Picea abies "Rottenhaus"
Photo by EDSR.

"Compacta" ("Compacta"). Dwarf form, usually about 1.5 -2 m tall. Old plants sometimes reach 6 m in height with the same crown width. The shoots are numerous, short, raised and brown in the upper part of the crown. The needles are about 9 mm long, shorter towards the top of the shoot, shiny, green. The form has been known in culture since 1864. In Holland and Germany it is found quite widely, in England it is still apparently unknown. In Russia it is available in the collections of botanical gardens.

"Konica" ("Conica"). Dwarf form, squat, with an obovate crown. It grows quite quickly, the annual growth is 3-6 cm. The branches are raised, tightly pressed to each other, thin, light or dark brown. The needles are radial and densely located, thin, soft, light green, 3-6 mm long. In cultivation since 1847, currently cultivated in Estonia and Lithuania.

"Cranstoni" ("Cranstonii"). Tree 10 - 15 m tall, with a loose, wide-conical crown and powerful branches. The needles are protruding, dark green, highly compressed, up to 30 mm long, often slightly wavy. The shoots are loosely located, branch weakly, and sometimes there are no side shoots. It grows slowly. The form is close to “Virgata” (Serpentine), but more bushy. When propagated by seed, 12% inherit the form. Appeared in England in Cranston's nursery in 1840 when grown from seeds. Recommended for solitaire plantings in gardens or on ground floors in parks.

Picea abies "Echiniformis glauca" Photo of Golubitskaya Lyubov Fedorovna "Echiniformis", spiny("Echiniformis"). Dwarf, slow-growing form, reaching 20 cm in height and 40 cm in width. The crown is cushion-shaped, unevenly developed in different directions. The shoots are light brown, glabrous, slightly shiny, hard, and relatively thick. Annual growth is 15-20 mm. The buds are light brown, large, cylindrical, rounded. The needles are yellow-green to gray-green, the lower needles are flat with a short sharp tip, the upper ones are star-shaped, located under the terminal cone. Known in culture since 1875. Propagated by seeds and grafting. Recommended for group and single plantings in rocky gardens, for growing in containers, for landscaping balconies and roofs, for cemeteries.

"Red-fruited" ("Erythrocarpa" (Purk.) Rehder) In GBS since 1979, 1 sample (4 copies) was received from Switzerland. Tree, at 15 years height 3.2 m, trunk diameter 3.5-6.5 cm. Vegetation from 20.IV ± 6. Grows slowly, annual growth is about 3 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Not found in Moscow landscaping.

Picea abies "Gregoryana" Photo by Epictetus Vladimir "Gregoriana" ("Gregoryana"). Dwarf form, 60 -80 cm tall. It grows extremely slowly. The annual growth of shoots is about 20 mm. The crown is rounded, cushion-shaped. The shoots are thick, curved, strongly branched, light brown, slightly pubescent. The buds are yellow-green, round, collected in groups of 10 at the end of the shoot. The needles are gray-green, with a sharp end, 8-12 mm long. The lower needles are arranged radially, the upper ones are star-shaped, opening the bud. A well-known and popular form, it is often confused with the very rare form of "Echiniformis", from which it differs in shorter needles (8-12 mm long), densely located, as well as the absence of strong shoots protruding beyond the general circumference, so characteristic of "Echiniformis" ". Propagated by cuttings and grafting. Recommended for group plantings in parks, rock gardens, and also for growing in containers.

"Inverse", Inverted ("Inversa"). Tree 6 - 8 m tall, with a narrow, unevenly developed crown. The crown diameter is 2 - 2.5 m. The branches and shoots are hanging, vertically vertical, the lower branches lie on the ground. The trunk is densely covered with branches. The buds are obtuse, red-brown, surrounded by two relatively large lateral buds. The needles are thick, dark green, shiny, semi-radially located. A unique shape that attracts the attention of lovers and gardeners. Propagated by grafting. Being grafted onto a prickly or common spruce "buttwise, with the core on the cambium", it grows relatively quickly. The annual growth is 15 - 20 cm. Discovered in 1884 by R. Smith in England. Currently quite common in culture abroad, it is also found in Russia. Recommended for single and group plantings on lawn parterres, rock gardens and gardens.

In GBS since 1947, 1 sample (1 copy) was obtained from seedlings from Potsdam. Tree, at 50 years old, height 1.1 m, crown diameter 200 cm. Vegetation from 27.IV ± 10. Grows slowly, annual growth 2-2.5 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Without treatment, summer cuttings do not take root. Not found in Moscow landscaping.

Picea abies "Little Gem" Photo on the right of Olga Bondareva Photo on the left of Evgeny Tarasov "Little Jam" ("Little Gem"). A completely dwarf form, a mutation from the common spruce "Nest-shaped", less than 1 m, flat-rounded, with a nest-shaped depression on top. Branches from the middle of the plant rise obliquely (annual growth 2-3 cm). The shoots are very thin, tightly compressed. The needles are thick, completely cover the shoot, 2-5 mm long, very thin. Originated in Boskop in I960 - Propagated by cuttings. Recommended for landscaping roofs, terraces, rock gardens. Sometimes grown in containers.

Picea abies "Maxwellii" Photo of Golubitskaya Lyubov Fedorovna "Maxwelly" ("Maxwellii"). Dwarf form, up to 60 cm in height, cushion-shaped growth and with a vaguely defined wide-pyramidal crown formed by very short, vertically directed thick shoots, evenly distributed throughout the bush. Crown diameter - up to 2 m, annual growth - 2 - 2.5 cm. The needles are dense, prickly, yellow-green, radially located on straight shoots. It grows slowly. Shade-tolerant. Propagated by cuttings. Valuable form, resistant to soot and soot. It has been known in culture for more than 100 years. Originated in the nursery of T. S. Maxwell in I860 in Geneva. Nowadays it is often found in American gardens. Recommended for growing in containers, on roofs and balconies. Can be planted singly or in small groups in gardens, on alpine hills.

Picea abies "Merckii" Photo by Kirill Tkachenko "Merkii". Dwarf form, rounded or broadly pinned, compressed, with short branches directed in all directions. The branches are spreading, slightly raised, hanging down at the ends. The branches are very unequal in size and number, yellow-white, often very thin, curved (annual growth 6-24 mm). The buds are 1.5-3 mm long, pin-shaped, light brown, covered with very loose scales. The needles on the underside of the branches are collected in bunches or tend to be so, on the upper side they are semi-radial, straight, very thin, flat, grass-green in color, gradually forming a long, thin, hair-like tip, about 12 mm long, 1 on each side —3 stomatal lines. Since 1884 in culture, but often under the wrong name.

"Microphylla" ("Microphylla"). In GBS since 1959, 1 sample (1 copy) was obtained from a quarantine nursery, where it arrived from Germany (company "Cordes"). Tree, at 31 years old, height 8.4 m, trunk diameter 13.5/23.5 cm. Vegetation from 23.IV ± 5. Annual growth 3-5 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Winter cuttings do not take root without treatment. Absent from the landscaping of Moscow.

"Nana" ("Nana"). The shape of the crown is obovate, growing unevenly, with the strongest straight shoots at the top. Young shoots on both sides are orange, bare, shiny with a pronounced ridge, very thick and hard, often wavy, sometimes bizarre in shape. Annual growth is from 5 to 50 mm, sometimes up to 10 cm. The buds are orange-brown, blunt, ovoid, varying in size, apical from 2 to 6 mm long. the remaining 1 - 2 mm. The needles are radial, on weak shoots they are densely located, on strong shoots the needles are far apart from each other, bright green, shiny, very variable in size, 2-16 mm long, mostly straight, on rough shoots they are curved outside, in cross-section, diamond-shaped , directed forward and completely covering the apical buds, has a short, delicate, sharp tip. On both sides of the needles there are 2 - 4 lines that do not reach the tip. The origin of the form is unknown, but already in 1855 it appeared in France, and today it is rarely found there. Available in the Arboretum of the St. Petersburg Forestry Academy.
In culture it is often incorrectly mixed with the cultivar" Pygmaea"The last form is of weak growth, spherical or broadly conical, usually no more than 1 m in height, very dense, with stunted growth, all shoots are bright yellow to gray-yellow, thick, but quite flexible, with very small annual growth.

Picea abies "Nana Compacta" Photo by Kirill Tkachenko "Nana compacta". A dwarf flat-rounded form, equal in height and width, very compressed, densely branched, at the top with powerful, thick, obliquely located (but not vertical) branches. The shoots are gray-yellow or gray-green, more whitish below, bare, shiny, thin and curved; the upper large shoots are very thick. The annual growth for lateral shoots is 2-3, for large ones 4-6 cm. The buds are obtuse-ovate, dark red-brown; apical 4-5 mm long, remaining 2-3 mm; some large buds at the ends of the shoots are collected in groups of 1-5 pieces. The bud scales are sharp, often resinous at the edges, tightly pressed, the leaf ridge is distinct, orange-brown in color. The needles are almost all arranged radially, including those on the side shoots; dense and hard, prickly to the touch, 4-7 mm long and 0.5 mm thick, light green, relatively straight, tetrahedral in cross-section, with 1-2 stomatal lines on each side; at the ends of the shoots there are several loosely standing needles. Appeared in Hesse around 1950. Often confused with 'Ohlendorfii', which is straighter and blunter, with bluish-green needles and few buds. Relatively rare form.

Picea abies "Nidiformis" Photo of Golubitskaya Lyubov Fedorovna "Nidiformis", Nest-shaped("Nidiformis"). Dwarf form, slightly higher than 1 m, wide, dense. The crown is cushion-shaped, flattened, which is obtained in the form of a nest due to the shoots growing obliquely from the middle of the plant and the absence of main branches. The branches grow evenly, fan-shaped and trumpet-shaped. There are numerous shoots. Annual growth is -3 - 4 cm. The needles are light green, flat, with 1 - 2 stomatal lines, which are a distinctive feature, 7-10 mm long. The form was obtained in 1904 at the Ruhlemann-Grisson nursery (Hamburg). The name was given by Beisner in 1906. Very effective for low borders, in small groups created on parterres and rock gardens. It is recommended to test it in landscaping roofs and loggias. Currently one of the most common dwarf forms.

Norway spruce "Ohlendorfi" Photo of Andreeva Nadezhda "Ohlendorffy" ("Ohlendorffii") . Dwarf shape, height b - 8 m, crown diameter 2.5 - 4 m, at a young age the crown is rounded, in old age it is broadly conical with several peaks. The shoots are erect and spreading. unevenly developed, densely located in the crown. Annual growth 2-6 cm. The buds are dark, orange-brown, and are found in groups at the ends of the shoots. The needles are golden-yellowish-green. short, prickly. outwardly resembles the needles of oriental spruce. Obtained from seeds in T. Ohlendorff's nursery near Hamburg in the mid-19th century. The seeds were brought from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. Propagated by seeds, cuttings (24%). Does not tolerate stagnation of water, salinity and dry soil. Shade-tolerant. Recommended for single and group plantings. In containers, it can be used to green roofs, balconies, and underground passages. In GBS since 1967, 3 samples (6 copies) were received from the Netherlands. Tree, at 23 years old, height 2.3 m, crown diameter 270 cm. Vegetation from 25.IV ± 7. Annual growth up to 10 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Without treatment, 24% of summer cuttings take root. Very decorative and therefore valuable for green building. Absent from the landscaping of Moscow.

"Pyramidata", Pyramid ("Pyramidata"). A tall tree with normal growth - The crown is narrow-conical, the lower shoots are long, the upper ones are gradually shortened and directed upward. The needles densely cover the shoots, on the upper side of the shoot the needles are pressed against each other and directed upward, forward, collected in bunches from below, in the middle of the shoot the needles are longer, 15 mm long, at the top of the shoot they are shorter, 10 mm. Propagated by seeds and grafting. Recommended for group, solitary and alley plantings in parks and squares, near administrative buildings.

Picea abies "Pygmaea" Photo by Andrey Ganov "Pygmy" , Dwarf("Pygmaea"). A dwarf form, growing very slowly, usually no higher than 1 m. The crown shape is rounded. The shoots are light yellow, shiny, bare, thick, slightly curved. The annual growth is 1-5 cm. The buds are brown. The needles on strong shoots are radial and distinctly rounded, densely spaced, especially on weak short shoots, 5-8 mm long and 1 mm wide, light green, top and bottom with 2-3 rows of broken lines. In culture since 1800. One of the oldest known dwarf forms. Propagated by cuttings and grafting. Recommended for growing in containers, for planting near houses on the lawn, singly or in small groups on rocky areas. In GBS since 1947, 2 samples (2 copies) were obtained from seedlings from Potsdam. Tree, at 50 years old, height 2.9 m, crown diameter 190 cm. Vegetation from 18.IV ± 8. Grows very slowly, annual growth of about 1 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Summer cuttings do not root without treatment. Not found in Moscow landscaping.

Picea abies "Procumbens" Photo of Natalia Pavlova "Procumbens" ("Procumbens"). Dwarf form, fast growing. The crown is wide and flat. The shoots are slightly raised, hard, flat, thick, orange-brown, glabrous, shiny. The annual growth is 5 -10 cm. The buds are orange-brown, sharp, ovoid, the apical 4 - 5 mm long, the remaining 3 - 4 mm. not resinous in winter. The group of apical buds consists of 3, sometimes 4. There are many lateral buds and they are smaller in size. The kidney scales are small, the border is fringed, tightly pressed. The needles are semi-radial, densely arranged, very hard to the touch, fresh green, straight, thick, 10 - 17 mm long (the longest needles among all flat-growing forms). Along the entire length from the base to the apex they gradually decrease, above and below with 3 stomatal lines. In culture, form is changeable. Its origin is not clear. The description was given by the famous botanist Welch.

"Pumila", short ("Pumila"). Dwarf form 1 - 2 m tall. The crown is broadly ovoid. The lower branches are located low, widely spaced, the creeping upper branches are directed upward. The shoots are yellow-brown, bare, thin, flexible. The annual growth is about 3 cm. The buds are light orange, ovoid. The needles are 6-10 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, light green, thick, arranged in rows that overlap each other, the lower needles are longer than the upper. Stomatal lines are found along the entire length of the needles. It was introduced into culture in 1874, but is now rare. Propagated by grafting, cuttings (12%). Recommended for growing in containers, for rock gardens, single or group plantings on alpine hills, on parterre lawns.

In GBS since 1972, 1 sample (1 copy). reproductions of GBS from a copy received in 1947 from Potsdam. Tree, at 18 years height 0.95 m, crown diameter 110 cm. Vegetation from 21.IV ± 6. Annual growth of about 1 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Absent from the landscaping of Moscow.

Picea abies "Reflexa" Photo by Kirill Tkachenko "Reflexa". Hanging form, forming a more or less long leading shoot. In the nursery it stretches out, and then, thanks to strong falling branches, it begins to spread along the ground. The shoots are thick and tough; pubescent branches; annual growth is 5-12 cm. The buds are very large, the apical buds are 6-8 mm long, and on strong shoots they are surrounded by 2-5 lateral buds. The cone scales are large and sharp, curved back in the upper part. The needles are dense, rigid, 10-12 mm long, radial, from light green to bluish-green, with 1-4 continuous stomatal lines on each side. Very old form. This variety can be used as a ground cover.

Picea abies "Remontii" Photo of Svetlana Polonskaya "Repair" ("Remontii"). Low-growing form up to 3 m tall. The crown is conical or ovoid, dense. It grows very slowly. The annual growth is 2-3 cm. The shoots are spaced at an acute angle, brown, lighter below, slightly pubescent; the buds are orange, ovoid. The needles are fresh green, not completely radial, the longest needles are located at the bottom of the shoot, at the ends of the shoots the needles are short and directed forward. Stable shape. Known in culture since 1874. Nowadays it occurs very often. Propagated by cuttings, the rooting rate of which is 62%. Recommended for landscaping roofs and balconies, rocky gardens. It is better to plant in small groups. Produced from cuttings at the scientific experimental station BIN "Otradnoe".

Picea abies "Repens" Photo of Svetlana Polonskaya "Repens", Creeping("Repens"). Dwarf form, 0.5 m high. Crown diameter up to 1.5 m. Branches numerous, overlapping each other, creeping. The shoots are orange-brown, glabrous, thin, very flexible, horizontally located, the tips are slightly drooping. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. The buds are orange, ovoid, with a sharp tip, the apical 3-4 mm, the remaining 2-3 mm, mostly 3 buds on the shoot. The needles are fresh green to yellow-green (color variable), semi-radially located, but very flat and dense. 8-10 mm long, wider at the base, with a distinct midrib ending in a sharp small spine. A number of authors have discrepancies in the description of this form.

"Viminalis", Rod-shaped ("Viminalis"). Tall tree, sometimes up to 20 m tall. The crown shape is wide-conical. The shoots are long and almost vertically spaced from each other, later leaning down. The needles are light green, slightly crescent-shaped, up to 3 cm long. It grows wild in many regions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Scandinavian countries, and Russia. First discovered in 1741 near Stockholm. It grows quite quickly. Annual growth is up to 40 cm. Propagated by cuttings and grafting. The rooting capacity of cuttings is 40%. Recommended for landscaping parks and squares, for single and small group plantings.

"Virgata", Serpentine("Virgata"). A low tree, up to 5 m tall, but more often a shrub. Mostly with long, barely branched shoots that resemble whips or hoses. The upper shoots are directed upward, the lower ones hang down. Buds are found only at the ends of shoots, from which new shoots can grow. The needles are radial, up to 26 mm in length, thick, very sharp, rough; often bent upward, remaining on the shoots for about 10 years. Grows quickly. The annual growth of apical shoots sometimes reaches 1 m. The form was first found in 1855 in France, later in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Scandinavian countries, and Switzerland. Naturally grows in the forests of Europe. Currently widespread in culture. Unusual shape, of interest to fans exotic plants, recommended for landscaping. Propagated by cuttings (6% without treatment with a stimulant) and grafting. Used for single planting in parks or squares, on parterre lawns. In GBS since 1970, 1 sample (1 copy) was obtained from the Moscow region (Uspenskoe). Tree, at 20 years height 8.2 m, trunk diameter 17.0/25.5 cm. Vegetation from 20.IV ± 7. Annual growth up to 20, rarely 40 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Winter cuttings treated with a 0.01% IBA solution for 24 hours gave 42% rooted cuttings. Absent from the landscaping of Moscow. Photo on the left of Konstantin Korzhavin Photo on the right of Voronina Svetlana

Picea abies "Wills Zwerg" Photo by EDSR. "Wills Zwerg" ("Will"sZwerg"). Dwarf form. Height 2 m, crown diameter 0.6 - 0.8 m. Described in Holland in 1936. The crown is narrow-conical. The bark when young is brownish, smooth, then reddish-brown, scaly-rough. The needles are needle-shaped, tetrahedral, dark green. Young needles are light green, sharply contrasting in color with the old ones. It grows slowly. Tolerates slight shade and may suffer from spring sunburn when young. Prefers fresh, well-drained sandy and loamy soils, does not tolerate stagnant water, salinity and dry soil. Frost-resistant, but at a young age it can suffer from spring frosts. Application: single plantings, groups.

Location: Shade-tolerant, at a young age it can suffer from spring sunburn.

The soil: prefers fresh, well-drained acidic, sandy and loamy soils, does not tolerate stagnant water, salinity and dry soil. Tolerates excessive flowing moisture.

Reproduction: seeds.

Application: single plantings, groups, alleys, arrays, hedges. Light brown cones up to 6-12 cm greatly decorate the tree during the fruiting period.

Partners: goes well with fir, pine, birch, maple, ash, angustifolia and other shrubs.

Spruce ordinary description photo seeds cones needles varieties nidiformis Siberian inversa acrocona characteristics

Latin name Picea abies (L.) Karst.

Family Pinaceae Lindl. - Pine

European spruce description

Tall evergreen tree 30 - 35 (50) m high, crown diameter - 8 m, trunk diameter up to 1.2 (2.4) m.

The crown is cone-shaped, compact or loose.

The bark when young is brownish, smooth, then reddish-brown, scaly-rough.

The needles are 10-25 mm long, 0.1 cm thick, 4-sided, pointed or curved. Dark green, shiny, lasts 6-7 years. Stores on branches for 6-12 years. A seventh of it falls every year.

Male cones are smaller than female ones and have a greenish-yellow color; they are located at the ends of last year's shoots, between the needles. Female inflorescences are bright red, the size of a grape. Male cones are reddish-yellow, female cones are purple or green.

The cones are cylindrical, 10 - 15 cm long, 3 - 4 cm wide, immature cones are light green or dark purple, mature ones are light brown or reddish brown, hanging down.

Blooms in May-June. Produces pollen in May-June. The seeds ripen in September-October.

Spreading

homeland - Europe.

Growing

Annual growth in height is 50 cm, in width - 15 cm. Up to 10 - 15 years it grows slowly, then quickly. Life expectancy is 250 - 300 years. Shade-tolerant, at a young age it can suffer from spring sunburn. Prefers fresh, well-drained acidic, sandy and loamy soils, does not tolerate stagnant water, salinity and dry soil.

Agricultural technology

Highly winter-hardy (excellent), drought-resistant (good), sometimes severely affected by pests and diseases (satisfactory). Dusting in May, cones ripen in October, seeds disperse in the second half of winter (good). Shade-tolerant. Can grow in poor soils, but prefers fresh, moist, well-drained soils.

Those presented in a separate article are based on many years of experience in growing various types and decorative forms of spruce in Moscow, in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Reproduction

Reproduces seeds, cultivars by cuttings and grafting.

Varieties

Varieties

Akrokona Asgosop. The variety was bred in Finland in 1890. Tree height is 2 - 3 m, crown diameter is 2 - 4 m, the crown is wide-conical.
The bark at a young age is brownish, smooth, later - reddish-brown, scaly-rough.
The needles are needle-shaped, tetrahedral, pointed, 1-2 cm long, 0.1 cm thick, dark green. Stores on branches for 6-12 years. Blooms in May. Male spikelets
reddish-yellow, female cones bright purple. The cones are cylindrical, large. Immature cones are bright, red, mature ones are light brown or reddish-brown, hanging down. The annual growth is 10 cm in height and 8 cm in width. It grows slowly. Shade-tolerant, at a young age it can suffer from spring sunburn. It prefers fresh, well-drained, acidic, sandy and loamy soils; it does not tolerate stagnant water, salinity and dry soil. Frost-resistant, but at a young age it can suffer from spring frosts. The cones look exceptionally beautiful.
Application: in single plantings, groups, alleys.

Aurea (“Aurea”) The height of the tree is usually up to 10 m. The branches are horizontal. The needles are shiny, yellowish-white, easily burnt in the sun, but in the shade the needles remain pale. Frost-resistant.
It is found in culture in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and was recently brought to Russia.
Recommended for group plantings.
“Aurea Magnifica”, Golden Magnificent (“Aurea Magnified’). Low-growing, bush-like form, up to 3 m in height. The shoots are horizontal and raised above the ground. The needles are light yellow-golden, orange-yellow in winter. One of the most beautiful yellow-colored forms of common spruce. Received in 1899 in Boskop. Lovely golden shape. Propagated by grafting and cuttings.
Recommended for single and group plantings in gardens, as well as in rock gardens.

“Berry” (“WagguG”). Strong, powerful dwarf form. Young plants have a rounded crown. By old age, the branches grow unevenly in different directions and become quite long and raised.
Young shoots are orange-brown, with large buds at the ends surrounded by needles. The needles are shiny, dark green, about 10 mm long, blunt, directed forward and upward.
Widely known in culture since 1891. Not yet found in Russia.

“Viminalis”, twig-shaped (“Viminalis”) Tall tree, sometimes up to 20 m tall. The crown shape is wide-conical. The shoots are long and almost vertically spaced from each other, later bending down. The needles are light green, slightly crescent-shaped, up to 3 cm long.
It grows wild in many areas of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Scandinavian countries,
Russia. First discovered in 1741 near Stockholm.
It grows quite quickly. Annual growth is up to 40 cm. Propagated by cuttings and grafting. The rooting rate of cuttings is 40%.
Recommended for landscaping parks and squares, for single and small group plantings.

“Virgata”, Serpentine (‘Virgata’) A low tree, up to 5 m tall, but more often a shrub. Mostly with long, barely branched shoots that resemble whips or hoses. The upper shoots are directed upward, the lower ones hang down. Buds are found only at the ends of shoots, from which new shoots can grow. The needles are radial, up to 26 mm in length, thick, very sharp, rough; often bent upward, remaining on the shoots for about 10 years. Grows quickly. The annual growth of apical shoots sometimes reaches 1 m. The form was first found in 1853 in France, later in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Scandinavian countries, and Switzerland. Naturally grows in the forests of Europe. Currently widespread in culture. Unusual shape, of interest to lovers of exotic plants, recommended for landscaping. Propagated by cuttings (6% without treatment with a stimulant) and grafting.
Used for single planting in parks or squares, on parterre lawns.

“Gregoriana” (“Gregoryana■’). Dwarf form, 60 - 80 cm tall. It grows extremely slowly. The annual growth of shoots is about 20 mm. The crown is rounded, cushion-shaped. The shoots are thick, curved, strongly branched, light brown, slightly pubescent.
The buds are yellow-green, round, collected in groups of 10 at the end of the shoot. The needles are gray-green, with a sharp end, 8-12 mm long. The lower needles are arranged radially, the upper ones are star-shaped, opening the bud.
A well-known and popular form, it is often confused with the very rare form “Echiniformis”, from which it differs in shorter needles (8-12 mm long), densely located, as well as the absence of strong shoots protruding beyond the general circumference, so characteristic of “Echiniformis " Propagated by cuttings and grafting.
Recommended for group plantings in parks, rock gardens, and also for growing in containers.

“Echiniformis”, Prickly (“Echiniformis”)
Dwarf, slow-growing form, reaching 20 cm in height and 40 cm in width. The crown is cushion-shaped, unevenly developed in different directions. The shoots are light brown, glabrous, slightly shiny, hard, and relatively thick. Annual growth is 15-20 mm. The buds are light brown, large, cylindrical, rounded. The needles are yellow-green to gray-green, the lower needles are flat with a short sharp tip, the upper ones are star-shaped, located under the terminal cone. Known in culture since 1875. Propagated by seeds and grafting.
Recommended for group and single plantings in rocky gardens, for growing in containers, for landscaping balconies and roofs, for cemeteries.

“Inverse”, Inverted (“.Inversef’). Tree 6 - 8 m tall, with a narrow, unevenly developed crown. The crown diameter is 2 - 2.5 m. The branches and shoots are hanging, vertically vertical, the lower branches lie on the ground. The trunk is densely covered with branches. The buds are obtuse, red-brown, surrounded by two relatively large lateral buds. The needles are thick, dark green, shiny, semi-radially located. Unique shape that attracts the attention of lovers and
landscapers. Propagated by grafting. Being grafted onto prickly or common spruce “buttwise, with the core on the cambium,” it grows relatively quickly. The annual growth is 15-20 cm. Discovered in 1884 by R. Smith in England.
Currently quite common in culture abroad, it is also found in Russia. Recommended for single and group plantings on lawn parterres, rock gardens and gardens.

“Clanbrassiliaiia” Dwarf form, in appearance resembles a wasp’s nest. Old plants have a height of about 1.5 m, rarely 2 m. The shoots are thin and curved. The annual growth is 2-5 cm. The shoots are light, gray-brown above, white, like cream, to greenish-white, shiny, bare below. There are varieties with long needles on powerful shoots and with short needles on weak shoots. The buds are acutely ovate, 4-5 mm long. There are only 2-3 lateral buds, long, red-brown, shiny, very resinous in winter and then gray. Apical buds 1-3 - The needles are almost radially spaced, about 5-10 mm long, shiny, light green, densely covering the shoots, in the middle the needles are the widest, thickest, flat in section, keeled, in the upper half long and sharp, fragile tip. It is recommended to remove old branches to make the plants look more impressive.
The oldest plant has been known since 1780, it was discovered near Belfast (Northern Ireland), brought by Lord Clanbrassilian to his Tollymore estate. This plant has survived to this day and has a height of 3 m. Currently, the form is widely cultivated in Europe, but is not always correctly named. It is advisable to try this form in Russia.

“Columnaris”. Tree with a columnar crown. Height up to 15 m, crown diameter up to 1.5 m. The bark when young is brownish, smooth, then reddish-brown, scaly-rough. The needles are needle-shaped, tetrahedral, pointed, 1 - 2 cm long, 0.1 cm thick, dark green. Stores on branches for 6-12 years. It grows slowly. Shade-tolerant. At a young age, he may suffer from spring sunburn. Prefers fresh, well-drained, acidic sandy and loamy soils, does not tolerate stagnant water, salinity and dry soil. Frost-resistant, but at a young age it can suffer from spring frosts.
Application: single plantings, groups, alleys.

“Compact” (“Compact^’). Dwarf form, usually about 1.5 - 2 m tall. Old plants sometimes reach 6 m in height with the same crown width. The shoots are numerous, short, raised and brown in the upper part of the crown. The needles are about 9 mm long, shorter towards the top of the shoot, shiny, green. The form has been known in culture since 1864. In Holland and Germany it is found quite widely, in
England is still apparently unknown. In Russia it is available in the collections of botanical gardens.

“Conica” Dwarf form, squat, with an obovate crown. It grows quite quickly, the annual growth is 3-6 cm. The branches are raised, tightly
pressed together, thin, light or dark brown. The needles are radial and densely located, thin, soft, light green, 3-6 mm long. In cultivation since 1847, currently cultivated in Estonia and Lithuania.

“Cranstonif’.” Tree 10 - 15 m tall, with a loose, wide-conical crown and powerful branches. The needles are protruding, dark green, highly compressed, up to 30 mm long, often slightly wavy. The shoots are loosely located, branch weakly, and sometimes there are no side shoots. It grows slowly. The form is close to “Virgata” (Serpentine), but more bushy. When propagated by seed, 1296 inherit the form. Appeared in England in Cranston's nursery in 1840 when grown from seeds.
Recommended for solitaire plantings in gardens or on ground floors in parks.

“Little Gem” (“Little Gent’). A completely dwarf form, a mutation from the common spruce “Nest-shaped”, less than 1 m high, flat-rounded, with a nest-shaped depression on top. The branches from the middle of the plant rise obliquely upward (annual growth 2-3 cm). The shoots are very thin, tightly compressed. The needles are thick, completely cover the shoot, 2-5 mm long, very thin. Originated in Boskop in I960. Propagated by cuttings.
Recommended for landscaping roofs, terraces, rock gardens. Sometimes grown in containers.

“Maxwellit” (“Maxwellit’”). Dwarf form, up to 60 cm in height, cushion-shaped growth and with a vaguely defined wide-pyramidal crown formed by very short, vertically directed thick shoots, evenly distributed throughout the bush. Crown diameter - up to 2 m. Annual growth - 2 - 2.5 cm. The needles are dense, prickly, yellow-green, radially located on straight shoots. It grows slowly. Shade-tolerant. Propagated by cuttings. Valuable form, resistant to soot and soot. It has been known in culture for more than 100 years. Originated in the nursery of T. S. Maxwell in I860 in Geneva. Nowadays it is often found in American gardens.
Recommended for growing in containers, on roofs and balconies. Can be planted singly or in small groups in gardens, on alpine hills.

“Nana” (“.NandThe shape of the crown is obovate, growing unevenly, at the top there are the strongest straight shoots. Young shoots on both sides are orange, bare, shiny with a pronounced ridge, very thick and hard, often wavy, sometimes bizarre in shape. Annual growth is from 5 to 50 mm, sometimes up to 10 cm. The buds are orange-brown, blunt, ovoid, varying in size, the apical ones are from 2 to 6 mm long, the rest are 1-2 mm. The needles are radial, densely located on weak shoots , on strong ones - the needles are far apart from each other, bright green, shiny, very variable in size, 2 - 16 mm long, mostly straight, on rough shoots curved from the outside, in cross section, diamond-shaped, directed forward and completely covering the apical buds , has a short, delicate, sharp tip. On both sides of the needles there are 2-4 lines that do not reach the tip.
The origin of the form is unknown, but already in 1855 it appeared in France, and today it is rarely found there.
Currently, the form most often sold under this name is “Pygmea”.

“Nidiformis”, Nest-shaped (“NidifomiifT”). Dwarf form, slightly higher than 1 m, wide, dense. The crown is cushion-shaped, flattened, which is obtained in the form of a nest due to the shoots growing obliquely from the middle of the plant and the absence of main branches. The branches grow evenly, fan-shaped and trumpet-shaped. There are numerous shoots. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. The needles are light green, flat, with 1 - 2 stomatal lines, which are a distinctive feature, 7-10 mm long. The form was obtained in 1904 at the Ruhlemann-Grisson nursery (Hamburg). The name was given by Beisner in 1906.
Very effective for low borders, in small groups created on parterres and rock gardens.
It is recommended to test it in landscaping roofs and loggias. Currently one of the most common dwarf forms.

"Ohlendorffii" Dwarf form, height 6 - 8 m, crown diameter 2.5 - 4 m, at a young age the crown is rounded, in old age it is wide-conical with several peaks. The shoots are erect and spreading, unevenly developed, densely located in the crown. Annual growth is 2 - 6 cm. The buds are dark, orange-brown, and are found in groups at the ends of the shoots. The needles are golden-yellowish-green, short, prickly, and in appearance resemble the needles of oriental spruce.
Obtained from seeds in T. Ohlendorff's nursery near Hamburg in the mid-19th century. The seeds were brought from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. They propagate se-
exchanges, cuttings (24%). Does not tolerate stagnant water or salinity
and dry soil. Shade-tolerant.

“Pyramidata”, Pyramidal (“Pyramidata”). Tall tree with normal growth. The crown is narrow-conical. The lower shoots are long, the upper ones are gradually shortened and directed upward. The needles densely cover the shoots, on the upper side of the shoot the needles are pressed against each other and directed upward, forward, collected in bunches from below, in the middle of the shoot the needles are longer, 15 mm long, at the top of the shoot they are shorter, 10 mm. Propagated by seeds and grafting.

“Pygmy”, Dwarf (“Pygmaea”) A dwarf form, very slowly growing, usually no higher than 1 m. The form is spreading, unevenly developed, densely located in the crown. Annual growth is 2 - 6 cm. The buds are dark, orange-brown, and are found in groups at the ends of the shoots. The needles are golden-yellowish-green, short, prickly, and in appearance resemble the needles of oriental spruce.
Obtained from seeds in T. Ohlendorff's nursery near Hamburg in the mid-19th century. The seeds were brought from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. Propagated by seeds, cuttings (24%). Does not tolerate stagnation of water, salinity and dry soil. Shade-tolerant.
Recommended for single and group plantings. In containers, it can be used to green roofs, balconies, and underground passages.

“Pyramidata”, Pyramidal (“Pyramidata”). Tall tree with normal growth. The crown is narrow-conical. The lower shoots are long, the upper ones are gradually shortened and directed upward. The needles densely cover the shoots, on the upper side of the shoot the needles are pressed against each other and directed upward, forward, collected in bunches from below, in the middle of the shoot the needles are longer, 15 mm long, at the top of the shoot they are shorter, 10 mm. Propagated by seeds and grafting.
Recommended for group, solitary and alley plantings in parks and squares, near administrative buildings.

“Pygmy”, Dwarf (“Pygmaea”) Dwarf form, very slowly growing, usually no higher than 1 m. The crown shape is rounded. The shoots are light yellow, shiny, bare, thick, slightly curved. The annual growth is 1-3 cm. The buds are brown. The needles on strong shoots are radial and distinctly rounded, densely spaced, especially on weak short shoots, 5-8 mm long and 1 mm wide, light green, top and bottom with 2-3 rows of broken lines.
In culture since 1800. One of the oldest known dwarf forms. Propagated by cuttings and grafting.
Recommended for growing in containers, for planting near houses on the lawn, singly or in small groups on rocky areas.

“Procumbent” Dwarf form, fast growing. The crown is wide and flat. The shoots are slightly raised, hard, flat, thick, orange-brown, glabrous, shiny. The annual growth is 5 - 10 cm. The buds are orange-brown, sharp, ovoid, apical 4-5 mm long, the remaining 3-4 mm, not resinous in winter. The group of apical buds consists of 3, sometimes 4. There are many lateral buds and they are smaller in size. The kidney scales are small, the border is fringed, tightly pressed. The needles are semi-radial, densely arranged, very hard to the touch, fresh green, straight, thick, 10-17 mm long (the longest needles among all flat-growing forms). Along the entire length from the base to the apex they gradually decrease, above and below with 3 stomatal lines.
In culture, form is changeable. Its origin is not clear. The description was given by the famous botanist Welch.

“Pumila”, short (“Pumila”). Dwarf form, 1 - 2 m tall. The crown is broadly ovoid. Lower branches
located low, widely spaced, creeping, the upper ones are directed upward. Shoots are yellow-brown, th
thin, thin, flexible. The annual growth is about 3 cm. The buds are light orange, ovoid. The needles are 6-10 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, light green, thick, arranged in rows that overlap each other, the lower needles are longer than the upper. Stomatal lines are found along the entire length of the needles. It was introduced into culture in 1874, but is now rare. Propagated by grafting, cuttings (12%).
Recommended for growing in containers, for rock gardens, single or group plantings on alpine hills, on parterre lawns.

“Pumila Glauca”, Low-growing Gray (“Pumila Glauca”). Dwarf form up to 1 m tall.

Repens, Creeping (“Repent’). Dwarf form, 0.5 m high, crown diameter up to 1.5 m.

Wills Zwerg (“Will’s Zwerg’). Dwarf form. Height 2 m, crown diameter 0.6 - 0.8 m.

Chemical composition

Active ingredients

Application

Energy properties. Spruce gives off energy, but if a person rarely visits spruce forests, then the tree can have a depressing effect on his psyche. Brief contact with spruce helps eliminate overstrain, nervousness, and teaches you to enjoy solitude, using it as a time for self-improvement.

Use in landscape design

Decorative by the shape of the crown, the color of the needles and cones. Decorative durability up to 50-55 years.

Is an important component park and forest compositions

Single plantings, groups, alleys, arrays, hedges.

Medicinal use

Spruce has an anti-inflammatory and breathing-easing effect. Preparations made from spruce save against scurvy, stimulate the immune system, and help restore tissue after bruises, abrasions, and wounds.

Collection and processing of medicinal raw materials

Application in official and folk medicine

In folk medicine, spruce bark, pine needles and cones are used. Bark and needles are collected in the summer. The cones are collected before the seeds begin to ripen.

Recipes for various diseases

Avitaminosis

In a mortar, grind the pine needles with a small amount of cold boiled water, add hot boiled water (1:10), acidify with lemon or citric acid, boil for 20-30 minutes, leave for 2-3 hours. Strain and take 1/2 - 1/4 cup a day after meals as a general tonic antiscorbutic remedy.

Bronchitis

Preparation of ointment. Take equal quantities of spruce resin, beeswax and butter melt, grind until homogeneous. Used externally for furunculosis, wounds and abrasions, ulcers and pustules. For persistent, old cough (chronic bronchitis), breathe in smoke from prepared ointment dripped onto hot coals

Dropsy

Boil 30 g of chopped young shoots and cones in 1 liter of milk, strain and drink 3 times a day in equal portions.

Pneumonia

Preparing a decoction of cones. 40 g of crushed cones are poured into 200 ml of water and boiled for 30 minutes. Strain through three layers of gauze and gargle 5-6 times a day or instill 4-5 drops into both nostrils for sore throat, tonsillitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, bronchial asthma, chronic pneumonia, for prevention of childhood infections.

Gout

Preparation of spruce baths. Prepare a decoction from the tops of young branches with buds (1:5), boil for 30-40 minutes. The resulting decoction is added to the bath water. Used for gout, rheumatic joint damage.

Wounds, ulcers

Grind dried spruce resin into powder and sprinkle on wounds and ulcers.
Take equal parts of spruce resin, beeswax and sunflower oil. Mix, heat, mix thoroughly, let cool. Lubricate the affected areas of the skin.