Picea sitchensis
Sitka spruce
(c) Aiva Noringseth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Pinaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) is a native California tree in the Pinaceae family.
Sitka spruce is a California native shrub found in the North Coast bioregion in moist soils, especially near coastal river mouths, at elevations below 450 meters. Its branches are distinctively drooping, with rigid leaves 1 to 3 centimeters long that are flat on the upper surface with two faint white bands and rounded underneath with darker green coloration. Growing as a substantial tree potentially reaching up to 66 meters tall with trunks up to 5.1 meters wide, the spruce has glabrous twigs and leaves with sharp, pointed tips that feel rigid to the touch. Its leaves feature a distinctive appearance with two faint, nearly white bands running along the surfaces, creating a subtle textural pattern. The tree produces seed cones less than 10 centimeters long with oblong shapes and papery scales featuring slightly jagged margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist soils, especially near coastal river mouths
Elevation: < 450 m
California counties: Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino
Outside California: to Alaska
How to tell it apart
vs Abies: Spruce twigs have rough, peg-like bumps; fir twigs are smooth with circular scars, and cones stand upright.; vs Pseudotsuga: Spruce twigs feel rough with persistent pegs; Douglas-fir twigs are smooth after needles drop.; vs Cedrus: Spruce needles attach to rough pegs on twigs; cedar needles grow in dense rosettes on short shoots.; vs Pinus: Spruce needles attach individually to bumpy twigs; pine needles come bundled in groups of 2-5.; vs Sequoia: Spruce has individual needles on rough, peggy twigs; redwood has flat sprays of scale-like or awl-shaped leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Picea sitchensis native to California?
Yes. Picea sitchensis is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Picea sitchensis grow?
Picea sitchensis occurs in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, at elevations of < 450 m.
What plant family does Picea sitchensis belong to?
Picea sitchensis is in the Pinaceae family, genus Picea.
What habitat does Picea sitchensis grow in?
Picea sitchensis grows in Moist soils, especially near coastal river mouths.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.