Description
Picea pungens
Zone: 2
Exposure: Full Sun
Mature Size: 65′ high x 25′ wide
Tree Form: Pyramidal, spire-shaped
Foliage Color: Green to silvery blue
Growth Rate: Slow then Moderate once established
Uses: Specimen, shelter-belt, windbreak, and in mass plantings
Description: An iconic, majestic, and beloved spruce that can be considered the mother of a great number of blue-needled spruce cultivars. Its native range is the central and southern Rocky Mountains of the United States, but it has been widely introduced to temperate growing zones worldwide due to its rugged beauty and versatility.
Ornamental Features: Immediately recognizable in the landscape by its symmetrical, conical growth habit and short, stiff, needles in a unique shade of blue. Needle colour is naturally an appealing silvery blue, but will vary depending on soil nutrients, soil pH, and sun exposure of individual trees. The colour provides a gorgeous contrast against the snow in winter, and against greener deciduous foliage during the growing season.
Landscape Attributes: An extremely hardy and rugged coniferous tree with versatility as a windbreak/privacy screen with a regular and dense branching pattern. While partial sun is tolerated, this can affect needle growth and colour vibrancy. Colorado Spruce support an extensive array of wildlife by providing shelter and food sources, and are an important component of urban habitats. The sharp needles deter browsing by deer and rabbits.
