Sitka Spruce
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| Sitka Spruce |
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Conservation status: Secure
Young Sitka Spruce in a forestry plantation in Britain <tr><th bgcolor=lightgreen>Scientific classification <tr><td>
(Bong.) Carr. </table> The Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) is a large evergreen tree growing to 50-70 m tall, exceptionally to 96 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 5 m. It is by far the largest species of spruce, and one of the five tallest tree species in the world. It is native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on Kodiak Island, Alaska, and its southeastern limit just north of San Fransisco, California. It is closely associated with temperate rain forests, and nowhere does its range extend more than 80 km from the Pacific Ocean.
Sitka Spruce foliage,
showing the blue-green
undersides of the needles
showing the blue-green
undersides of the needles
The shoots are very pale buff-brown, almost white, and glabrous (hairless). The leaves are needle-like, 15-25 mm long, flattened in cross-section, and dark blue-green above, and blue-white below. The cones are 5-11 cm long, and have thin, flexible scales. They are green or reddish, maturing pale brown 5-7 months after pollination.
Trees over 90 m tall may be seen in the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Canada), and in the Olympic National Park, Washington and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California (USA); two at the last site are just over 96 m tall.
A unique specimen with golden foliage growing on the Queen Charlotte Islands, known as Kiidk'yaas, is sacred to the Haida Native American people.
Sitka Spruce foliage, mature seed cone and (centre) old pollen cone
Outside of its native range, Sitka Spruce is of major importance in forestry for timber and paper production, and as an ornamental tree in large gardens, in northwest Europe and southern New Zealand. It is particularly valued for its fast growth on poor soils and exposed sites where few other trees can be grown successfully. It is naturalised in some parts of Britain and New Zealand, though not so extensively as to be considered an invasive weed tree.
External links
- Gymnosperm Database
- Arboretum de Villardebelle - photos of cones of Picea sitchensis and related spruces
da:Sitka-Gran (Picea sitchensis)
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