Picea engelmannii

Engelmann Spruce
Picea engelmannii

Family: Pine (Pinaceae)
AKA: White Spruce, Mountain Spruce
Photo taken on: June 16, 2007
Location: Copper Creek Trail, GV, CO
Life Zones: Montane to subalpine
Habitat: Dry, north-facing slopes

Grows to over 100ft. Can be confused with Colorado Blue Spruce because new growth is also blue. Bark on mature trees is scaly and cinnamon colored.arrow

Picea engelmannii

Picea engelmannii

Above tree-line Engelmann Spruce are stunted by wind, snow and intense sun. They are known as krummolz (German for 'crooked wood') and banner trees (trees with limbs only on the leeward side).arrow

Picea engelmannii

Cones are less than 2" long and dark tan. The cones of Colorado Blue Spruce are up to 4" long and are a pale tan in color, as can be seen in the picture below.

tree

Flora of North America reference.

Trees