European Spruce or Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

There are roughly 40 species in the genus Picea, or spruce, and their natural habitat reaches from Scandinavia to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Spruce is also common in the mountain ranges of Central Europe. European Spruce thrives in nutrient-rich and damp habitats. In Finland, the northern limit of where spruce grows is slightly lower than that of pine. Spruce seedlings grow slowly. Their length growth rate is at its maximum between the ages of 25–50 and volume growth at between 60–70 years. The biological life span of spruce ranges from 250 to 400 years. In hospitable habitats, spruce can reach hights of over 40 metres.