# Norway spruce (Picea abies)

**Swedish: Gran | English: Norway Spruce | Family: Pine family (Pinaceae)**

The Norway spruce (*Picea abies*), simply called **Gran** in Swedish, shapes the Lapland landscape like no other tree.

In May, the bright, light green, soft May shoots (Swedish *Granstrunt*) sprout at the ends of the branches. They are rich in vitamin C and resinous, fresh flavors and are traditionally used in northern Swedish cuisine.

## FAQs

- **What can you make from young spruce shoots?**: The soft spring tips are used to make delicious spruce needle syrup (*granskottsolja/sirap*), tea, jelly and seasoning salts.
- **How do you distinguish spruce and pine?**: Spruce needles are single, pointed, square and arranged all around the branch; the cones hang downwards.
- **How tall does a spruce tree grow in Lapland?**: In the Nordic climate they reach heights of 20 to 35 meters.
- **What ecological role does Gran play?**: It provides shelter for capercaillie, moose and brown bears and is the main tree of the taiga ecosystem.
- **When do spruce cones ripen?**: The cones ripen in autumn and fall off whole.
- **How old can spruce trees get?**: Individual trunks live 200–400 years. (Clonally, root systems such as 'Old Tjikko' in Dalarna Jahrtausende überdauern).


## Weitere Informationen

- Botanical illustration: Norway spruce (Picea abies), in Swedish'Gran'.
- The dominant conifer of the Swedish taiga. Young spring tips ('Granstrunt') sind eine Delikatesse.