Scientific Name: Picea abies
Family: Pinaceae (pine family)

Overview: A fast growing tree that will occasionally be found in Christmas tree lots. Known for its nice, pointy conical shape. Mature trees in the landscape become very tall and develop attractive, pendulous branches.

Fun Facts: Perhaps the most commonly cultivated conifer in North America. Although native to Europe, this tree has become naturalized in the wild in several states and provinces.

Etymology: So-named for its being native to northern Europe, including Norway. "Spruce" itself is Middle English (c. 1100-1500 AD) and derives from the Old French Pruce, which itself comes from the Latin Prussia. Originally so-named because spruce trees were known from this region. The genus name Picea is the Latin word for "spruce tree." Abies is Latin for fir. Seeing as the Norway spruce is clearly not a fir, it is not clear why the great 18th century taxonomist Carolus Linnaeus would have used the term abies to name this species of spruce.