Norway Spruce vs Caucasian Spruce

These two species are easily confused; both are tall and have dark green foliage and similar bark. They are easily told apart by needles and twigs, cones, and form. Both are widely planted in landscaping in Eastern North America, with Norway spruce more common. Norway spruce has widely established in the wild whereas Caucasian spruce has generally not done so. Both species are shade-tolerant; Norway spruce is more tolerant of poor drainage.

Norway Spruce (Picea abies)	Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis)
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Native to Europe, and widely planted in northeastern North America, occasionally established in the wild. The spruce in North America with the widest growth habit.	Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) A large evergreen tree native to the Caucusus mountains, occasionally used in landscaping in North America.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) More conical form, broader at the base but narrowing more at the top. Photo © Charlie Hohn, CC BY 4.0.	Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) Narrower, more cylindrical form, having more-or-less the same width until the very top of the tree. Photo © Alex Zorach, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Twigs are hairless. Photo © Randy A Nonenmacher, CC BY-SA 4.0.	Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) Twigs are covered in fine hair. May require magnification to see. Photo © Alex Zorach, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Much larger cones. Photo © Derek, CC BY 4.0.	Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) Much smaller cones. Photo © Alex Zorach, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Much longer needles. Needles of mature twigs often project more perpendicular to the twig. Photo © Mark Apgar, CC BY 4.0.	Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) Much shorter neeldes. Needles angle forward more strongly in the direction of the twig. Photo © Alex Zorach, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Cone scales have flattened tips, often with teeth or notches, making an abrupt angle with diagonal edges; exposed part of cone scales on closed cones is usually roughly diamond shaped. Photo © Jason Swanson, Public Domain.	Caucasian Spruce (Picea orientalis) Cone scales have gently rounded tips, lacking notches. Exposed part of cone scales on closed cones is much wider than tall. Photo © Alex Zorach, CC BY-SA 4.0.

References & External Resources

These short lists show only links helpful for ID. For a complete list of references and resources also covering other aspects of ecology, visit the links section of the full article on each plant, which is the first entry here.