Bark is gray with bumps on skin. Late successional species. Replaces aspen and birch, and is very shade tolerant. Bark is brownish gray and slightly flakey. Late successional-climax species, and very shade tolerant.
Black spruce is found in bogs, and very acidic sites.
Very shade tolerant, climax species in bog forests. Overlapping scale-like needles, bright yellow green. Bark is strip-like and tree is often twisted. Preferred white-tailed deer browse. Bark is heavily furrowed and chocolate-colored.