Subarctic Norway Spruce Seeds

Selected subspecies of Norway spruce, Subarctic comes from the most northern range of Norway spruce found in areas where few plants can survive and even fewer trees can exist in the short season, extreme cold and dryness of the winter winds. This spruce has naturally shorter needles which grow close to the stems. The tree itself is of shorter stature and is somewhat of a semi-dwarf with a 'squatty' structure. Trees have a slow growth rate averaging 1 ft. per year although some seedlings are more vigorous. 

Found in Norway, subarctic spruce has great possibilities as a wind break tree in areas where trees are essentially impossible to grow. This spruce has possibilities within hedgerows mixed with other edible plants. The lumber could be harvested and could provide excellent wood for musical instruments because of its slow growth and dense growth rate much like alpine fir is used today.

Seeds are produced after about 20 years of growth. Some trees will produce cones on small trees and others take until the trees are 20 feet tall. The branches are so dense in the tree, you cannot climb the trees. But pole pruners work. You have to catch them before the red squirrels move in as well. I see this as an important resource for cold hardy wind break trees with great possibilities for wildlife use where few trees can tolerate minus 50 F. More testing needs to be done on its actual grow outs.