Virginia Tech Dendrology

Engelmann spruce Pinaceae Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. symbol: PIEN
Leaf: Evergreen, four-sided needles (1 inch long), which are sharp, flexible and bluish green. Each needle borne on a raised, woody peg (sterigma).
Flower: Species is monoecious; male flowers cylindrical, purple and hanging in lower crown; females cylindrical, red and upright in the upper crown.
Fruit: Cone, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, thin, flexible scales are somewhat wavy, light brown.
Twig: Brown, with fine hairs present. Bud scales tighter than some other spruces.
Bark: Thin, reddish brown, sometimes with purple tint, becoming very scaly and loose.
Form: Medium to large tree (80 to 100 feet tall), straight trunk, narrow crown. At the highest elevations it will appear very windswept.
Looks like: blue spruce - Sitka spruce - Brewer spruce - subalpine fir

Additional Range Information: Picea engelmannii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Wood - Landowner Factsheet
External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America - USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information