Englemann Spruce

The englemann spruce, Picea engelmannii, is a very common high altitude tree in this region.   Utah State University describes this species as follows:  "Engelmann spruce is found in some of the highest and coldest forest environments in the western United States, characterized by long, cold winters with heavy snowpack and short, cool summers. It extends down to lower elevations along stream bottoms where cold air flows down the valley and collects in localized frost pockets. Generally found on moist and cool sites, but at timberline it may occur on somewhat dry sites. At middle elevations, pure stands are usually found on alluvial terraces, wet benches, bottomlands, slopes with seeps or cold north or east aspects. It occurs on all aspects at timberline, and grows in clumps called tree islands.  Stands of Engelmann spruce will establish themselves under other forest types such as aspen or lodgepole pine because it is shade tolerant." At times one can stand in a valley and see only engelmann spruce trees on a north facing slope and only other sun-loving species like lodgepole pine on the south facing slope.  It is one way to tell direction in the mountains!

Englemann spruce often grow in the same areas as subalpine fir, and I sometimes have trouble telling them apart.  Again, cones are very helpful with identification.  The cones of the englemann spruce hang downwards, unlike those of the fir, and they are larger with more open, thin, jagged-tipped scales.  The following picture was taken in the summer high in the Snowy Range.

Englemann spruce are often the last species of tree to see hiking towards timberline.  At these altitudes they can be quite wind-battered and shrubby.  They can form low, bent krummholz (from the German for 'crooked wood') or banner trees, in which the branches only remain on the leeward side.  Other species of trees can also become krummholz, but this is one of the more common species to do so in this area.

George Engelmann was a botonist of the 1800s who was instrumental in describing and categorizing many plants of the west.  According to swcoloradowildflowers.com, this species was named in his honor by Charles Parry, the 'king of Colorado botany' who in turn has eighty species named after him!