Norway Spruce Producing Cones

[firefighter ontheside]

I have one Norway spruce tree in my front yard.  It is about 20' tall and maybe 20 years old.  I bought it at a nursery and planted it when it was about 6" tall.  I've wondered if it would ever produce cones, due to it being all alone.  I happened to notice today that it has produced some cones this year.  I'm happy to see them and will enjoy the different look of the tree this year and to see the cones grow.

[SwampDonkey]

Hard for these old eye to see, but they may be just male pollen cones. Give the branch a shake and see if pollen dust comes about. Female seed cones usually are more erect pointing to the sky.   

[firefighter ontheside]

You may be right about that, but the tree has never produced these either.  presumable if its making male cones, then female cones will be coming along shortly.

[SwampDonkey]

They will be softer as they elongate and after the pollen is dispersed they will drop away.

[Southside]

SD that's rather presumptive of you to say that those are male cones, how do you know they don't identify as pumpkins? 

[firefighter ontheside]

Well, today confirmed that what I was seeing is male cones.  A dry windy day today.  Clouds of pollen were coming from my shortleaf pines, eastern cedars and the Norway spruce.  Hopefully this means I will get seed cones.

[Southside]

I am jealous that you have shortleaf, I have discovered a whopping 2 on my farm. 

[SwampDonkey]

Bound to be a few seed cones, surely. They have to get some of that pollen.   They tend to be higher up on the tree.

[firefighter ontheside]

I have shortleaf, loblolly, a few whites and some virginia.  They were originally planted here by my dad and grandparents about 65 years ago.  They now reproduce by themselves very well.  The natural range for shortleaf is about 10 miles to my south, so shortleaf do very well here.  Loblolly do well, but suffer at the hands of heavy wet snow.

After all the pollen cones are gone it may be easier to see any seed cones.