The difference between a spruce and a pine

The difference between a spruce and a pine

Different characteristics of spruce and pine

Sometimes a single look is enough, sometimes you need to pay closer attention to details. In any case, it helps to know which characteristics are important to differentiate a spruce from a pine.

also read

  • The growth of one pine a year
  • The location requirements of a pine
  • Tips and tricks for planting a pine tree

The needles

Spruce:

  • arranged around the branch
  • 1-2 cm long
  • pointed, square, rigid
  • new shoots shine bright green

Jaw:

  • wax-coated surface
  • 3-8 cm long
  • bluish green or silvery gray

The cones

Spruce:

  • long, cylindrical
  • hang on the branch
  • 10-16 cm long
  • mature in the first year
  • colored red or brown

Jaw:

  • round, spherical
  • 3-6 cm long
  • mature every two years
  • gray or dark brown

The bark

Spruce:

  • thin scaly
  • straight
  • brown or red

Jaw:

  • forms plates
  • gets thicker with age
  • gray-brown
  • two-colored trunk (yellowish or fox-red above)

Stature

Spruce:

  • up to 60 meters

Jaw:

  • up to 40 meters

The crown

Spruce:

  • conical
  • evenly

Jaw:

  • slim and pointed
  • flattened crown

Pros and cons of wood

There are also differences in the use of wood from both tree species, which result from the different properties

Spruce:

  • Due to the large number of spruce trees, it is the most widely used wood in Germany
  • fewer branches
  • lighter than pine wood
  • the heartwood forms a hoop core. which makes the spruce wood susceptible to pest infestation

Jaw:

  • higher resin content
  • therefore more durable and more resistant
  • the heartwood forms a color core, so it is very resistant to pests
  • can be impregnated well

Occurrence

Last but not least, the two conifers also differ in their area of ​​distribution. The spruce is the most common type of conifer in Germany, closely followed by the pine. The latter, on the other hand, is more often found in the cold, northern climes.