Photo of Red Spruce (Picea rubens)

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Photographer & Copyright

© Ben Armstrong

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CC BY 4.0

Inclusion in Plant ID / Comparison Guides

This photo is featured in 2 plant ID/comparison guides:

White Spruce (Picea glauca) vs. Red Spruce (Picea rubens)

Updated December 29th, 2019

White and red spruce are usually relatively easy to distinguish by their foliage color and cones, but they can be confused because they have a similar shape. In the northeast, where red spruce can also be found at low elevations, both species often occur together in the same habitats.

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Red Spruce (Picea rubens) vs. Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

Updated December 29th, 2019

These species are sometimes confused, but are easily distinguished by growth habit and cones, and can also be distinguished by fine details of needles and twigs. In North America, they can occur together where Norway spruce has escaped cultivation and become established in the wild. Most landscaping plants, however, are Norway spruce.

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