APPEARANCE
Up to 40 metres tall, the Englemann spruce is one of the taller conifers in the Southern Interior Mountains ecoprovince. It has pointed bluish-green needles that spread out on all sides of its twigs and are squarish if you roll them between your fingers.
RANGE & HABITAT
The Englemann spruce is found throughout southern B.C. and up through the interior. This spruce can grow in a variety of different habitats, from subalpine regions to floodplains and lakeshores.
LIFE CYCLE
These cold-tolerant species can live up to 1000 years of age. They produce cones after 20 years and the seeds are dispersed by the wind.
ANIMAL USES
Beyond the fact that the spruce provides important habitat and winter shelter for a variety of small animals, it also is a food source for the big horned sheep and porcupine which munch on the bark and foliage. The seeds are eaten by many species of birds and small mammals.
TRADITIONAL USES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The Nlaka’pmx and Secwepemc use the bark to make canoes. They also split the roots for sewing baskets and use the pitch (the sap or sticky stuff) for slivers and sores.
OTHER USES
The wood is used to make musical instruments like violins and pianos, and plywood.
STATUS
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow
MORE INFORMATION
Photo: Calypso Orchid
More Southern Interior Mountains species
