Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)
The Wood Guide · The forests
The forest series · tree portraitSitka spruce
From the rainforests of the North American west coast. Extremely fast-growing, light and strong — and that is why it is the wood of guitar tops and aircraft wings.
- Picea sitchensis
- Largest spruce in the world
- Strength-to-weight ratio
Sitka spruce in brief
An impressive conifer from the west coast of North America, able to grow extremely fast and to supply the wood known as Sitka.
The combination is rare: light in weight and very strong, with high flexibility and tensile strength. That makes it exceptionally suited to uses where every kilo counts but nothing may break.
On top of that, it has excellent acoustic properties, is easy to work and lends itself particularly well to laminated layers. That makes it a staple in construction, shipbuilding and the music industry.
Before aluminium, Sitka spruce was the aviation material of choice — the Wright Flyer contained it, and in the Second World War it went into the wing spars of the De Havilland Mosquito. The reason is the same as for guitars today: no other wood achieves as much strength per kilo.
- Botanical
- Picea sitchensis
- Origin
- west coast of North America, Alaska to California
- Distinctive
- the largest spruce in the world
- Growth
- extremely fast
- Strong in
- strength-to-weight ratio
- Use
- tonewood, boatbuilding, construction, laminate
To be fair: Sitka spruce is planted on a massive scale in Europe, especially in Ireland and Scotland, and that is ecologically controversial. Dense, uniform Sitka plantations on former peatland or heath support little life and acidify the soil. The wood is excellent; the way it is grown is not always.
In pictures · The largest spruce in the world
Schematic drawing.
The largest spruce in the world
Size
The largest species of the genus Picea. In its natural coastal rainforest it reaches heights no European spruce comes close to.
Prickly needles
Flat but very sharp — you recognise a Sitka spruce by grabbing a branch. Blue-green on top, with white stripes underneath.
Coastal tree
It thrives in cool, wet coastal climates with plenty of rain and fog. That is exactly why it takes so well in Ireland and Scotland.
Fast growth
In a suitable climate it is one of the fastest-growing conifers, which makes it economically attractive for forestry.
Why it is tonewood
Light but strong
The strength-to-weight ratio is at the heart of everything. Lightweight, with high flexibility and tensile strength.
Acoustic
Narrow, even growth rings transmit vibrations efficiently. That makes it one of the most widely used woods for acoustic guitar tops and piano soundboards.
Boatbuilding
Masts, frames and laminated parts — light enough to carry, strong enough for the sea.
Excellent for laminating
It glues well and stays dimensionally stable, which makes it suitable for laminated structural parts. See laminated timber.
Tonewood is paid for by the growth ring. Slow-grown Sitka with very narrow, even rings sounds better and is worth many times more than the same wood from a fast-growing plantation. The same species, a very different price.
Frequently asked questions about Sitka spruce
What is Sitka wood?
The wood of the Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) from the North American west coast. It is light, very strong and acoustically excellent.
Why is Sitka spruce used in guitars?
Because of its narrow, even growth rings, which transmit vibrations efficiently, combined with an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. It is one of the most widely used woods for acoustic guitar tops.
Is Sitka spruce the same as Norway spruce?
No, but they are related. Both are Picea, but Norway spruce is the European species that supplies spruce timber (whitewood); Sitka spruce comes from North America and is larger.
Why are Sitka spruce plantations controversial?
Dense, uniform plantations on former peatland or heath support little life and acidify the soil. The wood is excellent; the way it is grown is not always.
Sitka spruce in perspective
The wood on which people learned to fly — and on which they still play.
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Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Picea sitchensis — Kimon Berlin, CC BY-SA 2.0