The most popular tree specimen, the Colorado spruce, is used in all northern states. Rigidly conical-pyramidal in shape, with densely arranged horizontal branches that intertwine with the substrate. Tetrahedral needles from 3/4 inch to 1 1/4 inch long, colors from green to gray-green, blue-green or silver-blue. The best seedlings with blue coloring (picea pungens var. glauca) led to the common name "blue spruce". Withstands almost any soil, except wet. It is often used as a sample plant, although it can reduce the overall landscape by using very blue trees.
Habit:Stiffly conical-pyramidal, sticky needles, with dense to very dense habit.
Growth Rate: Slow 10" to 12" per year in average landscape.
Mature Sizes: In an average mid west landscape after 20 years 20' to 25', and 10' to 12' wide.
Needle: Green to silver-blue, very stiff, 3/4" to 1" long, very sharp point on the end, 4 sided.
Texture: Stiff, semi-formal.
Cones: 2 1/2" to 4" long, cylindrical, tan in color.
Culture: Transplants well, shallow spreading root system on heavy soils, plant in very well drained soil. Perfers full sun, but will grow in light to moderate shade (not less than 4 hours direct sunlight) expect trees to be lighter branched less dense, and sometimes slower growing. Colorado Spruce will perform better than any of the pine family in partial shade. Perhaps the most drought tolerant of all spruces.
Disease and Insects:Cyctospora (cankers), Mites.
Cultivars and Varieties:
- Fat Albert; is a cutting-produced clone with a wide, pyramidal habit and excellent, rich blue needle color.
- Hoopsii; is a standard. It has a dense, pyramidal form and extremely glaucous blue needles.
- Moerheimii; is another old cultivar. It too, has rich blue foliage, but it tends to be more open in habit than some of the others.
- Montgomery; is a dwarf, wide spreading pyramidal, 6" per year.
- Globosa; very slow growing, 3" per year, wider than tall, rounded and compact with bluish needles.
Zone:2 to 7.
Native Habitat: Western United States, introduced about 1862.
