Cones globular to only slightly cylindrical; cone scales woody, not flexible; northeastern North America or boreal.

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Cones elongate and cylindrical; cone scales flexible; ranges various.

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Cones globular and 0.5 to 1 inch in length; needles 0.3 to 0.5 inches in length.

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

Cones globular-elongate, ranging from 1.3 to 2 inches long; needles about 0.5 to 0.7 inches long.

Red Spruce (Picea rubens)

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Needles diamond-shaped in cross-section.

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Needles flattened in cross-section.

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Cone scales not elongate and apices broadly rounded or truncate.

White Spruce (Picea glauca)

Cone scales elongate and apices pointed and toothed.

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Cones 1.5 to 2.5 inches long; foliage dark green to slightly blue-green; bark smooth with small scales.

Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii)

Cones 2.5 to 4 inches long; foliage blue-green to blue; bark not smooth and with large scales.

Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

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Cone scales elongate and pointed at their apices; immature cones not purple.

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Cone scales not elongate and apices broadly rounded; immature cones purple.

Brewer Spruce (Picea breweriana)

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