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Sitka Spruce

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Sitka spruce

Enw gwyddonol: Picea sitchensis
The Sitka spruce was introduced into the UK from North America in the 19th century. It has been widely planted as a forestry tree; look for classic needle-like leaves and pale brown, domed cones.

Species information

Ystadegau

Height: up to 60m

Statws cadwraethol

Introduced, non-native species.

Pryd i'w gweld

January to December

Ynghylch

The Sitka spruce is a tall, evergreen conifer originally from the west coast of North America. It was introduced into the UK in 1831 and has become our most widely planted forest tree. Between the 1950s and 1980s, it was notoriously planted in large, regimented, dark and uniform forests.
It is conical in shape, displays needle-like, pointed leaves, and has large, domed cones that open their 'scales' to release the seeds inside.

Sut i'w hadnabod

Spruce trees can be distinguished from fir trees because they have downwards-hanging cones; and they differ from pine trees by having shorter needles. The Sitka Spruce has pale brown, domed cones that are shorter (10cm long) than those of the Norway Spruce (15-20cm long).

Dosbarthiad

Widely planted for forestry.

Habitats

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

The Sitka spruce a very common forestry tree in the UK's uplands. It is used for timber and wood pulp.

Sut y gall bobl helpu

The Wildlife Trusts manage many woodland nature reserves sympathetically for the benefit of all kinds of wildlife. A mix of coppicing, scrub-cutting, ride maintenance and non-intervention all help woodland wildlife to thrive. You can help too: volunteer for your local Wildlife Trust and you could be involved in everything from traditional forest crafts to surveying for woodland plants.