The white spruce (Picea glauca), is a coniferous tree that is native to North America. It is a tall, straight tree that can reach heights of up to 100 feet and can live for several hundred years. The bark of the white spruce is thin, scaly, and grayish-brown in color, and the tree has a conical shape with dense branches that grow in whorls.
The needles of the white spruce are blue-green in color and are about ½ inch to ¾ inch in length. They are stiff and sharp and grow in a spiral pattern around the branches. The cones of the white spruce are cylindrical in shape, and they can grow to be up to 4 inches long. They are green when young but turn brown as they mature.
The white spruce is an important tree for both wildlife and humans. The needles provide food for many species of wildlife, including moose, elk, and snowshoe hares. The cones are also an important food source for many animals, including red squirrels and birds. Humans use the white spruce for a variety of purposes, including lumber, pulpwood, and Christmas trees.
In addition to its economic and ecological importance, the white spruce also has cultural significance. It has been used by Indigenous peoples for centuries for its medicinal properties and for making baskets, snowshoes, and other items. The white spruce is also the official provincial tree of both Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada.
