Evergreens are usually easy to spot and conifers (trees that bear cones) are even easier to spot (especially when it’s winter!). But drilling down, how to identify conifers further? Here are some tips to tell pine and spruce trees apart.
Like deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves when it’s cold), conifers can be identified by their leaves, which are not leaves at all, but needles! This is an easy tip to remember: on pine trees, needles are attached and attached to the branches in clusters; on spruce trees, needles are attached individually.
- A longleaf pine – which you can tell is a pine because its needles are attached in bundles.
- You can tell this is a spruce because its needles are attached individually.
We don’t want to say you’ve been lied to your whole life but…the cones that trees produce are not necessarily called pinecones. Not all conifers that produce cones are pines. These cones are built from scales attached to a center stalk – these scales are what can help you differentiate between a pine cone and a spruce cone. Pinecone scales are woody in nature, with a rigid feel. In contrast, spruce cones have thinner scales than pinecones, which gives them a more flexible feel. Be warned though, the length of cones can vary from tree to tree, so the length is not a reliable way to indicate the species of conifer you’re trying to identify.
- pinus strobus “eastern white pine” cone.
- A mature picea pungens “blue spruce” cone. Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Whether it’s a pine or a spruce we bet it would look good and do good in your yard. Evergreen trees provide shade, privacy, and year-round interest.
Loblolly Pine | Pinus taeda
The loblolly pine is a relatively fast-growing evergreen known for its straight trunk, upright form and distinctive bark. Its narrow form allows it to occupy a variety of yard spaces, and over time its crown of attractive green needles spread out to provide shade below. Loblolly pines need full sun and will attain a height of 40 feet in about 30 – 40 years. You can also get up to $50 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
Virginia Pine | Pinus virginiana
Often used as a bonsai specimen, the Virginia pine is a unique and attractive tree with a sinuous trunk and orange-red bark. It will grow in poor, dry soils. The Virginia pine Requires full sun where it may reach 20 to 30 feet in height in approximately 40 years. This tree is available through our residential planting program, RiverSmart Homes. You can also get up to $50 back for planting this tree yourself through our tree rebate program.
FAQs
This is an easy tip to remember: on pine trees, needles are attached and attached to the branches in clusters; on spruce trees, needles are attached individually. A longleaf pine – which you can tell is a pine because its needles are attached in bundles.
What is the difference between spruce and pine trees? ›
Pine cone scales tend to be thicker and woodier than spruce cone scales which are more papery in texture. As a result, pine cones tend to be more rigid than spruce cones. Many species of pine have cone scales that are armed with spines or prickles.
How do I know if my tree is a spruce? ›
If the twig carries its needles singly, it's a good bet you've got a fir or a spruce. Pull off a needle, and roll it between your fingers. If it feels flat and doesn't roll easily, it's a fir. If the needle has four sides and, thus, rolls easily between your fingers, it's a spruce.
How to tell the difference between spruce pine and fir lumber? ›
Fir is a strong and durable wood with a straight grain. It usually comes with a light-yellow or reddish-brown coloration with yellow sapwood. Spruce tends to be lighter in weight than fir while having an even finer texture.
What's the difference between a pine tree and an evergreen tree? ›
There's no difference between a pine tree and an evergreen. This is because a pine tree is a type of evergreen tree. Moreover, evergreens have green foliage all year round. Thus, they do not shed needles as much as deciduous plants that completely lose their leaves during fall.
How do you identify a pine tree? ›
The surest way to identify conifers is to examine the needles and cones along with the bark. In general the bark of pine trees is smooth on young trees but develops a flaky, reddish-brown color with age. Scots pines have a particularly orange/red peeling bark. White pines can have smooth bark, even when mature.
Does spruce smell like pine? ›
That fresh pine scent comes mostly from chemical compounds called terpenes. These terpenes are plentiful in conifer resin and these include alpha pinene and beta-pinene, alongside limonene and bornyl acetate which all contribute to the smell of pine, spruce or fir trees.
What do the needles of a spruce tree look like? ›
The needles have four distinct sides and are not flat. They are attached to the twigs by a woody joint or peg, called a sterigmata. If a spruce twig is bare, it will have a spiky or jagged look because of these woody joints.
Are spruce trees male or female? ›
While it is true that the spruce tree can be started by simply planting a seed from its cone - it is also true that the spruce tree produces both male and female cones. The female cones tend to be larger than the male and contain what experts call "ovules" that actually develop into an egg cell.
What disease is killing spruce trees? ›
Cytospora canker, caused by the fungus Cytospora kunzei (also known as Valsa kunzei var. piceae), is the most prevalent and destructive fungal disease of Norway and Colorado blue spruce.
1. Structural applications: Both pine and spruce are considered suitable for all structural applications, including beams, structs, studs, frames, and braces. Spruce is sometimes preferred in some structural uses because of its higher strength-to-weight ratio.
How can you tell if wood is pine? ›
It's relatively easy to identify pine because of the frequent presence of dark knots and its distinct yellow color (although this can sometimes lean more towards pale yellow or light brown, depending on the exact species).
How to tell a spruce from a pine? ›
This is an easy tip to remember: on pine trees, needles are attached and attached to the branches in clusters; on spruce trees, needles are attached individually.
How to identify spruce trees? ›
The main identification traits to pay attention to for spruces are the following:
- The shape is generally conical, occasionally spire-like.
- Bark is scaly and can be grey to reddish depending on species.
- Needles are 4-sided and grow around the entire branch.
- Needles attach to branches on small pegs called sterigmata.
Trees With Clusters or Bundles of Needles
The number of adult needles per fascicle is important for the identification of these coniferous species, especially the pines. Most pine species have fascicles of 2 to 5 needles and are evergreen. Most larches have multiple clusters of needles in whorls.
Is pine similar to spruce? ›
Grain & Texture: Pine exhibits a straight grain with an even texture, whereas spruce showcases a fine, even texture and straight grain. It is worth noting that spruce may occasionally feature small knots on its surface, whereas the knots on pine are more prominent & less uniform compared to spruce.
Is pine more expensive than spruce? ›
Pine and spruce have soft timber. Pine lumber is cheaper and more available than spruce lumber.
Is a blue spruce a type of pine tree? ›
The blue spruce (Picea pungens), also commonly known as green spruce, Colorado spruce, or Colorado blue spruce, is a species of spruce tree native to North America in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
How to tell the difference between coniferous trees? ›
Conifers can be identified by the needles, cones and sometimes the color of the bark. Pine needles are in groups of 2, 3 or 5 and are longer than spruce and fir needles. Spruce needles are single needles emanating around the branch and have four sides.
Loblolly Pine | Pinus taeda
Virginia Pine | Pinus virginiana