The Norway spruce (Picea abies), the second most common tree species found in Finnish forests, requires moister habitats than the Scots pine and tolerates shade. Norway spruces grow into a variety of different shapes in nature, from low, round trees to ones with curved branches.
Norway spruces provide versatile, light timber for buildings, furniture and the paper industry. Norway spruce is also used to make acoustic musical instruments. Young Norway spruce buds are edible as is, and they are also used to make spruce tip syrup and as medicine. For many Finns, the Norway spruce is the one and only Christmas tree.