Research concerned features of trees and timber of Norway spruce, a species with high genetic and environmental variability. Sample plots were set up in 28 stands in the mountains of the Beskid Żywiecki (region in southern Poland). Stands were grouped according to the lower and upper forest zone and trees according to branch type, i.e. comb-like, brush-like, flat and mixed. The results of the χ² test confirmed a significant relation between, on the one hand, a relative height of the crown base, the structure of timber quality and size and a tendency towards a change of technical quality of timber – and, on the other hand, altitude and branch type. The width of annual rings in the analysed material was related only to altitude. It did not depend on the branch type. The presence and percentage of rot did not depend on altitude. The percentage of rot was connected only with type of branches.

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