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The Red Spruce has an interesting history. Until the 1950’s many professional foresters disputed its existence in Ontario. The Red Spruce is only found in isolated pockets throughout the southwestern regions of the Algonquin Highlands. From a distance the Red Spruce looks more like a Hemlock than a Spruce, which is why most of the foresters neglected to recognize it. In fact, distinguishing the Red Spruce can be fairly simple for even a novice forester. A mature Red Spruce can grow as tall as 26 metres and have very wide crowns. Branches have a very distinct “pagoda-like” upsweep.
If you ever walk through a Red Spruce forest you will notice the damp lushness of the Red Spruce. This species prefers rich moist sites in mixed conditions. Well-drained sandy soils are ideal for growing. The Red Spruce does very well in shady locations and has a life expectancy of 250 – 350 years.
The Red Spruce is the provincial tree of Nova Scotia.
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