Leaves

• 1-2 cm in length
• needle-like four-sided in cross section
• dark bluish-green, without lustre, surrounding whole twig

Cones

• oval
• purplish-green
• 1-4 cm in length
• roughly toothed scales which open only slightly
• gradually releases seed throughout the winter
• stays in tree for many years
• turn to brown at maturity

Bark

• thin and scaly
• greyish to reddish-brown
• deep olive green inner bark

General

• most important and valuable pulpwood species in Newfoundland
• grows 9-12 m in height with a 15-30 cm diameter
• distinct by sparse, drooping upturned branches
• compact, club-like crown
• grows best on well-drained, sandy soil
• also grows on many different sites, including sphagnum bogs, pure, dense stands or burnover areas in association with Larch and sometimes Aspen
• heat from forest fires opens the Black Spruce cones releasing seed to naturally regenerate burns in Newfoundland
• common to reproduce by "layering" on very wet sites, where moss covers lower branches, causing them to develop into new trees