Tour Detail

Background
History

The Norway spruce is a large tree and the fastest growing of the spruces. It has graceful branches that droop or “weep.” Spruce needles are arranged singly along the branches and are square in cross section. You can feel this by rolling a needle between your fingers. It also has long, cylindrical cones that hang like ornaments from the weeping branches.

This tree hails from Europe. Although it does grow in Norway, it actually grew in Eurasia, the Black Forest and other parts of the continent before making its way to Norway around 500 B.C. As people emigrated, they often brought the Norway Spruce with them to plant as ornamentals on new homesteads. Every year around Christmas time, a tree is placed in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Looking for the largest and most beautiful tree, year after year, the Norway Spruce is chosen. Its strong branches hold up thousands of lights and ornaments. The tallest reached 100 feet.