Engelmann Spruce
Picea engelmannii
Engelmann spruce shares high mountain slopes with subalpine fir, forming the classic subalpine forest of the interior Northwest. Its soft, flexible needles and drooping cones distinguish it from the sharper, stiffer needles of its lowland relatives.
Where found
High-elevation subalpine forests of the Cascades and Rocky Mountains.
Fun facts
- Needles are softer and more flexible than Sitka spruce's sharp spikes.
- Commonly hybridizes with white spruce where their ranges meet.
- Its resonant wood is prized for musical instrument soundboards.
Specs
| Height | 25–40 m (up to 50 m) |
|---|---|
| Spread | 5–8 m |
| Lifespan | 400–600 yrs |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Sun | Full sun to part shade |
| Native Range | British Columbia and Alberta south through the Rockies and interior Cascades |
