Ever Green
Posted by sue on July 5, 2004
Q: Is a Norfolk spruce the same as a Norfolk pine? Can a spruce survive a bitter winter?
A: I think what we have here is a bit of confusion with common names. There is a Norway Spruce, no Norfolk Spruce that I know of, that is native to Europe and commonly planted in North America. The Norfolk Island Pine is from an island about 1000 miles northeast of Australia and is not a pine at all, it just looks vaguely similar. Pines and spruces are related but are definitely different kinds of trees. Spruce are common in the colder areas of North America, growing well north in Canada and Alaska as far north as the tree line. So yes, spruce can and do survive bitter winters. If you can get a look at a good field guide to trees, you'll be able to see the differences between pines and spruce, as well as their ranges across North America.
John Wiessinger ( July 6, 2004)