Spruce vs. Pine vs. Fir: Distinctive Features + Difference Tips

Spruces, firs and pines are common garden feature trees. They all belong to a type of tree known as conifers or coniferous trees. Telling the difference among them can be a great lesson. Most people are familiar with the terms pine, cones, needles and fir barks. For some reason, many gardeners and homeowners use these trees or their parts. They are remarkably useful in gardening activities such as decoration, Christmas trees, landscaping and planting.

Telling them apart from a scratch can be a tricky business. Nonetheless, there are simpler and easier ways to tell one from the other.

Pine, Spruce or Fir? – Tell the Difference

From needles and cones to growing habits, there is a lot to help spot the difference among these evergreen trees. Each has its own distinctive features to help identify them separately.

Fir vs pine vs spruce — Pine, fir or spruce? Photo courtesy of SAW

1) Needle Set and Count

Using the differences in leaves is the easiest way. It is safe to say that pine, spruce and fir trees have needles. Essentially, these are the leaves. In all three, these needles grow from a twig or branch from the same spot. Allow me to call this ‘leaf set’.

One simple way is to use the leaf count (number) to tell the difference among the three. We can safely conclude:

Pines usually have the needles in pairs (two’s), or in groups of three or five
If the needles are borne singles, 99 percent sure that is either fir or a spruce tree

White pine tree — Eastern white pines have 5 needles

Another way to spot differences is by looking at the projections. You should have also noted that:

Spruce needles are attached to small, stalk-like woody projections
Pines have lesser woody projections
Fir branches lack these projections

2) Needle Features

Suppose you have the three trees, you can use needle characteristics to tell either tree apart. And here are features of the needles to help you identify which is a fir, spruce and pine.

Now cut fresh needles of any of the two trees at random. Feel them between fingers. Then pick each needle and try pricking your inner elbow skin. Which one is softer? Is there any that you felt its prick? I suppose.

Spruce needles are sharply pointed
Fir needles are much softer

Next, place each needle between fingers then try to roll them. If upon rolling each needle between fingers:

Fir needles are flat and tend to roll with difficulty or can’t just roll
Spruces on the other hand are four-sided – they roll a bit with ease

3) Cones and their Scales

In conifers, cones are structures that bear the means of reproduction. Commonly, they comprise the seeds. They are also made up of a mass of scales attached to a center stalk.

Pinecones

The cones in pines are great features that distinguish them from other conifers.

Pinecones are smooth even as the tree grows older
They are flexible
They have woody and rigid but thin scales
Pinecones almost hang toward the ground from the time they form

NB: All conifers produce cones. But not all cone-producing pines are true pines.

4) Spruces cones vs Fir cones

Spruce cones have thinner scales than pinecones. This cone feature gives them a more flexible feel. Like the pinecones, they hang downward too.

On the other hand, fir cones grow out but don’t hang towards the ground as they develop. Mature fir cones are stiff and woody. In fact, some will grow up instead.

Fir twigs, needles, cones — Fir tree with mature cones

Immature cones have green surfaces
In some fir species, immature cones are purple-bluish, reddish-brown
Unlike spruce cones, these lack that flexible feel

Useful Notes

Though they are a group of evergreens, these trees shed their needles at some point. The branches may differ and changes in bark development over time occur. Here are more useful notes I need to point out on branches and barks among the three.

The Branches and Barks

While young, all the three common conifers have generally smooth barks.

Spruces

What useful tips did I make of spruces tree barks? When needles are shed, those woody projections rarely flatten or disappear.

Spruces develop rougher and tough branches
The barks have a scaly appearance with a prominent rough feel

Firs

After shedding its needles, the tree’s woody projections do not remain. As a result, branches may be less tough but are strong enough though.

Pines

Compared with spruces and firs, the branch average borne of pines is low.

Pines have tick and scaly barks
The majority produce branches in irregular (pseudo-whorls) rings each year

I love pines. Among the three conifers, pines are my favorite. The versatile growing adaptability, and definitions they give my garden make them top of the list.

Reference and Sources