Why is it that the cones of my spruce trees are purple some years? And what is the "dried fungus" look that they all seem to get? fleur52
Cone colour varies with species, and to a lesser extent within species. In your area, Black Spruce always has dark purple cones; White Spruce has either green or green-tinged-purple cones, rarely darker purple (but never as dark as Black Spruce). Can you post a photo of the "dried fungus look"?
The Spruce trees were originally from northern Ontario - brought to southern Ontario some 30 years ago. If you say they are Black Spruce then you are probably right. The cones are not purple every year, but probably every third year. Other years they are a normal greenish colour. The "dried fungus" looks like a bluish moss and is mostly against the trunk of the tree.
