This large conifer has an upright trunk with purplish-brown bark and radiating branches that form a conical habit. It has needle-like dark to light glossy green leaves and the shoots are orange-brown. The male and female green cones appear during spring.

Hardiness zones 4 to 9 

Picea rubens is naturally found from eastern North America to Nova Scotia growing in forests on moderately fertile moist loams. It prefers a open sunny position and is drought tender but frost tolerant.

Red Spruce is a large coniferous tree is grown for its shape and its timber. It is planted in large cool climate parks and gardens as a specimen or in group plantings in woodland settings and establishes in 3 to 5 years. It is also used in the timber industry for flooring and paper pulp. It is not suitable for urban gardens. ID 1420

Note:
It is an important wood pulp species and is simular to the smaller Picea mariana Black Spruce.

Picea (pi-SEE-ah) rubens (roo-BEN-s)

Pinaceae (py-NAY-see-ee)
Larches, spruces, pines, firs, hemlocks and cedars