Spruce Fir

Spruce Fir (Picea) - Usually stately evergreen cone-bearing trees of the northern world and mountains, including among them the common Norway Spruce and the Douglas Fir, usually doing best in moist valley soils. Trees that were once included under this head are now placed under Abies and also Pinus, to which the reader should refer for trees he seeks which are not placed under this heading. As regards grouping and other matters, what has been said of Pinus and Abies may be considered as applying to a great extent to these trees also.

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Picea Ajanensis

Picea Ajanensis - The finest of the Japanese Spruces, distinguished from all others by the bluish silver tint of the young branches on the undersides, but which are upturned so that the whole tree has a silvery appearance. It is very hardy, and thrives best in a stiffish soil. It should not be in a too sheltered place, or it will commence growth too early and be liable, to injury by late frosts.

Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir (Picea Douglasi) - Among the noblest trees of the west American forests, this is one of the best trees ever introduced, both for ornament and timber. It should be planted only where the soil and situation are suitable, and not in exposed places, as it thrives best in sheltered valleys or woods, but it will live in various soils. There are several varieties of the tree, that known as the Colorado variety being considered the hardiest. The glaucous form is a handsome tree, more rapid in growth than any other silvery conifer. Varieties of this tree are of slight value, the best being the natural form from the Rocky Mountains.

Norway S.

Norway S. (Picea Excelsa) - Is a quick-growing tree, but too short-lived to be of great value for ornament. It is a mistake to plant it on high exposed places or in hot sandy soil. In most sheltered valleys it is a beautiful tree when seen in masses. There are many forms of it, a good number of which are mere monstrosities not worthy of the garden, especially the so-called golden and silvery varieties.

Picea Sitchensis

Picea Sitchensis - In places where this Spruce thrives it is a very beautiful tree, because of the bluish silvery-grey tone of its needle-like leaves. In a damp climate where the soil is deep and moist it thrives but in dry soils soon in a wretched condition. It grows well and rapidly with me, and is the best of trees for wet soils. Alaska to N. California.

Picea Morinda

Picea Morinda - No other Spruce has such gracefully drooping branches as this Himalayan tree, which is also known well by its other name, P. Smithiana. It is worthy of a place among the finest ornamental trees, but must have a deep moist soil, more heavy than light, and the position not too sheltered. Under these conditions it flourishes in the bleakest parts of the eastern counties, where some of the finest examples of it exist.

Servian S.

Servian S. (Picea Omorica) - A recent introduction which promises to be a good addition to the Spruces notable for ornamental planting. It has somewhat the appearance of P. orientalis in its growth, and very dark green foliage, but the leaves are larger, flat, and decidedly silvery beneath.

Picea Orientalis

Picea Orientalis - This Caucasian Spruce has somewhat the appearance of the Norway Spruce, but it is a smaller growing tree with much shorter leaves and branches, and is more suitable as a garden tree, as it is of denser growth and retains its lower branches. It is of a deep glossy green, and on this account, and its dwarfed growth, is especially suitable for grouping with the larger conifers. It is very hardy, and thrives best in moist soils.

Tiger-tail S.

Tiger-tail S. (Picea Polita) - This is one of our newer Japanese trees, but, judging by the largest trees in various parts of the country, it is a Spruce that will thrive in these islands. It is of handsome outline, and with leaves the stiffest and sharpest of all, which renders it cattle proof. It stands exposure well, and is a tree for high windy places.

Picea Pungens

Picea Pungens - An American Spruce most valuable for this country, hardy, standing exposure in high places better than any other. It is generally known in gardens by the variety glauca. It is largely raised from seed in order to select from the seedlings silvery plants. This Spruce is confused with another Californian Spruce called P. Engelmanni, P. commutata, or P. Parryana, but, which is quite inferior to P. pungens.