Spruces and fir trees

Difference between spruces and fir trees

Spruce (Picea) or a fir (Abies) may seem alike but there are differences. The easiest ones to pick out are:

• The branches of spruces feel rough because the areoles are left behind when the old needles are shed. On firs the branches are much smoother.
• If a young needle is pulled off a spruce, a piece of the areole is torn off too.
• Plus on firs the cones are upright, whilst on spruces the older cones droop.
  

Fir tree

There are about fifty species of fir tree (Abies). The ‘common’ fir (A. alba) is a well-known forest tree in Central Europe. The narrow ‘Pyramidalis’ and the drooping ‘Pendula’ are suitable for garden use.

Spruce

Spruces (Picea) are very attractive trees and there are lots of cultivars for the garden in all sorts of shapes and colours. Dwarf forms include:  P. abies ‘Procumbens’, ‘Nana’, ‘Nidiformis’, ‘Pumila’ and ‘Pygmaea’, P. glauca ‘Conica’, P. mariana ‘Nana’. Suitable for use in a pot on the balcony or patio: Picea abies ‘Little Gem’, Picea glauca ‘Echiniformis’ and ‘Alberta Globe’, Picea mariana ‘Nana’.

Even more spruces

Hemlocks or Tsugas make up a small family that are close spruce relatives. The Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) in particular has produced many fine cultivars, such as ‘Jeddeloh’, ‘Fantana’ and ‘Greenwood Lake’. The species is so unusual because the needles on the uppermost branches are sometimes twisted and the silver underside is on top.