Picea pungens 'Stanleys Dwarf' (Stanleys Dwarf, Blue Spruce)


Michael's Opinion

Larry Stanley who has more than 30 years of experience in the nursery industry and founded Stanley and Sons Nursery with his father in 1976 discovered Stanleys Dwarf. It was originally planted as a Christmas tree on 114 cm centers with 3000 other seedlings, when the other trees were cut down or dug, this plant was only 20 cm high and 30 cm across. Strangely enough, Stanley does not list this; maybe it should be Stanley’s mystery, Quoted directly from Larry Stanley “Stanley's Dwarf is still not a very good cultivar we do not propagate it”.

Botanical Information

FamilyPinaceae
GenusPicea
Speciespungens
Cultivar'Stanleys Dwarf'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (evergreen)
OriginDiscovered at Stanley and Sons Nursey in Boring, Oregon by Larry Stanley in 1970.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone2 - 10
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone0a-6b
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH7 - H2
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)(-45) - 4
Temperature (°F)(-43) - 40
Height60 cm
Spread75 cm
GrowthSlow
Flowering PeriodMay

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionDense tree with a pyramidal form and small yellow flowers.
ID CharacteristicRigid, sharply pointed needles, green-blue to grey in colour, orange-brown young shoots that become grey-brown with age and pale brown cones with papery scales.
ShapeUpright pyramidal.
LandscapeUsed as a specimen or in groups.
PropagationGrafting is performed in the winter from January to February and overwintered in unheated structures until spring where it is then planted outside. Seedling rootstock Picea pungens is used with apical-wedge or side veneer graft. Selected forms can be propagated by semi ripe cuttings of side shoots, although these can take up to 2 years to strike.
CultivationFull sun in acid to neutral soil a ph range of 4.0-6.5. Well drained, moist soil and sheltered from cold winds.
PestsSpruce gall aphids, spruce needle miner.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem DescriptionYoung bark is orange-brown but becomes scaly and grey-brown as it matures.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionSometimes spherical but often conical with elongated narrow tips that are blunt on the end. Non-resinous buds with a caramel colour and loosely bunched scales.
Leaf DescriptionRigid needles that are sharply pointed and blue-green to grey. Spreading and whorled on the branchlets but denser on upper surfaces.
Flower DescriptionSmall insignificant yellow flowers.
Fruit DescriptionCones are up to 6-10 cm long, green when young maturing to pale brown with papery scales.
Colour DescriptionOrange-brown young bark maturing to gray-brown, blue-green to gray needles, yellow flower and green young cones that mature to pale brown.
Texture DescriptionCoarse texture.

Photographs