Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce (P. sitchensis pictured)

Common Name(s): Norway Spruce, European Spruce, Common Spruce, Baltic White Pine

Scientific Name: Picea abies

Distribution: Northern and central Europe

Tree Size: 115-180 ft (35-55 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 25 lbs/ft³ (410 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .32

Hardness: 377 lb_f (1,680 N)

Bending Strength: 9,130 lb_f/in² (62,950 kPa)

Elasticity: 1,406,000 lb_f/in² (9,700 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.9%, Tangential: 8.2%, Volumetric: 12.1%, T/R Ratio: 2.1

Color/Appearance: Norway Spruce is typically a creamy white, with a hint of yellow and/or red.

Grain/Pore: Norway Spruce has a fine, even texture, and a consistently straight grain.

Durability: Heartwood is rated as being slightly resistant to non-resistant to decay.

Workability: Easy to work, as long as there are no knots present. Glues and finishes well, though it can give poor (blotchy and inconsistent) results when being stained due to its closed pore structure. A sanding sealer, gel stain, or toner is recommended when coloring Spruce.

Smell: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Spruce in the Picea genus has been reported as a sensitizer. Norway Spruce in particular has been reported to cause skin irritation and asthma-like respiratory effects. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Construction grade spruce is cheap and easy to find. Although Norway Spruce is native to Europe, it has also been planted in the northeast, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific coast areas of the United States. Species of construction-grade spruce will vary by locale.

However, Quartersawn billets of instrument-grade Norway Spruce, (frequently sold under more “sophisticated” names such as German Spruce, Yugoslavian Spruce, etc.) can easily exceed the cost of most all domestic hardwoods in terms of per board-foot cost.

Comments: Common uses for Norway Spruce include: pulpwood, papermaking, construction lumber, millwork, crates, christmas trees, and musical instrument soundboards.

Related Species:

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii)

Red Spruce (Picea rubens)

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

White Spruce (Picea glauca)

Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this exact wood species, but a similar species within the Picea genus is being substituted (P. sitchensis). If you’d like to contribute a wood sample of this specific species to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.