Sitka Spruce

The Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) is a large evergreen tree growing to 50-70 m tall, exceptionally to 96 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 5 m. It is by far the largest species of spruce, and the third tallest tree species in the world (after Coast Redwood and Coast Douglas-fir).

Range

Sitka Spruce is native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on Kodiak Island, Alaska, and its southeastern limit near Fort Bragg in northern California (Griffin & Critchfield 1972). It is closely associated with the temperate rain forests and is found within a few kilometers of the coast in the southern portion of its range. North of Oregon, its range extends inland along river floodplains, but nowhere does its range extend more than 80 km from the Pacific Ocean and its inlets.

Related Topics:
North America - Kodiak Island - Alaska - Fort Bragg - California - Temperate rain forest - Pacific Ocean

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More than a century of logging has left only a remnant of the spruce forest. The largest trees were cut long before careful measurements could be made. Trees over 90 m tall may still be seen in the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (the Carmanah Giant, at 96 m tall the tallest tree in Canada), and in the Olympic National Park, Washington and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California (USA); two at the last site are just over 96 m tall. The Queets Spruce is the largest in the world with a wood volume of 337 cubic meters (10,540 cu. ft.). It is located near the Queets River in Olympic National Park, about 27 km (16 miles) from the Pacific Ocean. The Quinault Lake Spruce (left) is the third largest in the world with a wood volume of 298 cubic meters (10,540 cu. ft.). It is located near the eastern tip of Lake Quinault north of Aberdeen, Washington, about 39 km (24 miles) from the Pacific Ocean.

Related Topics:
Pacific Rim National Park - Vancouver Island - British Columbia - Canada - Olympic National Park - Washington - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - California - USA - Lake Quinault - Aberdeen, Washington

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Sitka Spruce is a long-lived tree, with individuals over 700 years old known. Because it grows rapidly under favorable conditions, large size may not indicate exceptional age. The Queets Spruce has been estimated to be only 350 to 450 years old, but adds more than a cubic meter of wood each year (Van Pelt, 2001).

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A unique specimen with golden foliage growing on the Queen Charlotte Islands, known as Kiidk'yaas, is sacred to the Haida Native American people.

Related Topics:
Queen Charlotte Islands - Kiidk'yaas - Haida - Native American

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