Spruce of the Northeast, ID by pubescence.

[SwampDonkey]

black spruce with pubescence on the round topped ridges and in between them. Needles can appear dull, blue-green or grey green from a distance



red spruce with sparce pubescence in between round topped ridges. Needles are glossy or waxy and yellow green



white spruce, no pubescence. Needles are dull and dark green to blue-green

See thread on balsam fir
Link to Balsam

[PoginyHill]

If I had access to needles and cones, I suppose I could tell the difference. Is there anything in the bark of mature spruce where I can tell white from red? With a snow-covered ground and only dead branches within reach, I don't have access to many of the characteristics.

I've read somewhere that older white spruce bark tends to form round plates that are loose on the surface and red tends to form elongated plates. Red is typically darker in color than white bark, but I think that can be deceiving and not a reliable indicator, especially when the trunk has access to sunlight.

[SwampDonkey]

Here's bark of a mature white spruce the wind took down this fall.



Mature red spruce bark

[SwampDonkey]

Young white spruce.



Young red spruce.