A small to medium-sized tree; common in northern New England and at upper elevations in the Appalachians south to GA. It is the most important northestern spruce. Needles are about 1/2", yellow-green, angled forward, and somewhat pricky. Twigs are orange-brown and pubescent in twig grooves. Cones are about 1-1/2" long and ovoid with scales rounded on the margin which is more or less entire.