Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce)
Michael's Opinion
A coarse leaved conifer but with a distinct pyramidal form. A dull green to pale blue grey in colour.
Botanical Information
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Genus | Picea |
| Species | pungens |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Origin | Discovered in Colorado in 1862. |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 2 - 7 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 0a - 7a |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H5 - H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -46 -(-12) |
| Temperature (°F) | -50 - 10 |
| Height | 40 m |
| Spread | 12 m |
| Growth | Fast |
Description and Growing Information
| ID Characteristic | Pyramidal with branches horizontal to the ground and new growth that is blue. |
| Shape | Pyramidal and dense. |
| Landscape | Typically used as a wind break or mass planting. Very tolerant of saline soils. |
| Cultivation | Does best on moist well-drained soils. |
| Pests | Spruce canker and sometimes gypsy moth are problematic. |
| Habitat | The side of mountains where it is hot and dry. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Course, flaky, purplish brown. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | 1 cm with slender scales at the base. |
| Leaf Description | Stiff, sharp, and four sided needles that are 3 cm long. |
| Flower Description | Male strobili are orange where the female strobili are green. |
| Fruit Description | Cylindrical cones 12 cm in length. |
| Colour Description | Blue foliage with brownish purple bark. |
| Texture Description | Medium. |
Photographs
Picea pungens var. glauca.
Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa'.
Picea pungens 'Hoopsii'.
Picea pungens 'Koster'.
Picea pungens 'Montgomery'.
Picea pungens 'Thume'.
Picea pungens 'Gebelles Golden Spring'.
Picea pungens 'Iseli Fastigiate'.
Picea pungens 'Iseli Foxtail'.
Picea pungens 'Glauca Pendula' Cone.
Picea pungens 'Stanley Dwarf'.
Picea pungens 'Baby Blue Eyes'.