In conifers the needles are connected to the pith by so‐called needle traces, which elongate in accordance with the thickening of the shoot as long as the needles are alive. This study describes how to determine in retrospect the early foliation of spruce which has already been shed, by means of the needle traces found in the innermost column of the trees. The actual foliation of the main axis and of the branches of young trees showed no significant difference. The number of needle traces in the main axis as compared with the number of needles actually counted on the same segments showed no significant difference either. Therefore, the needle‐trace method appears to be applicable for reconstructing the foliation of old spruce trees retrospectively.