Popular Ornamental Spruces

• The blue-green Colorado blue spruce, or Picea pungens, is a popular ornamental tree, according to North Dakota State University's Tree Information Center website. The Norway spruce, or Picea abies, is another decorative tree, which has a greener look.
  
  

Features

• Spruce trees have needles that are individually attached to the branch -- not clustered like pine trees. Their branches are rough to the touch. Like other conifers, they produce cones. They also have rough bark that becomes grooved as they age.
  
  

History

• Between 1887 and 1933, the "Christmas Ship" fishing schooner would travel from Michigan to Chicago with spruce trees for sale, according to the University of Illinois Extension website.