Colorado spruce tree plants are evergreen trees and grouped with the conifers. Colorado blue spruce trees are valuable in deer country, as their prickly texture and strong smell render them conveniently deer-resistant. They have short, dense needles that start out with a light green hue and become gray-green as the branches get older. The tree needs a weekly watering but does not need to be drenched. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Use dwarf blue spruces in rock gardens, mixed borders, as a low hedge or in containers. They will tolerate partial shade, but you will be happier with your plants' performance if you give them enough sunshine. Like all evergreens, the dwarf Alberta grows year-round, but landscapers may need to wrap young trees in burlap during the harsh winter months since strong, freezing winds can dry the tree out and cause long-term damage. University of California Marin Master Gardeners, WSU Clark County Extension PNW Plants: Hoopsii Colorado Blue Spruce, University of California Marin Master Gardeners Plant Guide: Picea pungens "Glauca Globosa", Santa Fe Botanical Garden: December: Colorado Blue Spruce: Picea Pungens, Fine Gardening: Designing With Dwarf Conifers. Glauca), can grow 50 to 80 feet in the landscape and even taller in the wild. The pyramidal shape and color of foliage make this tree an ideal choice for a Christmas tree! Apply 2 or 3 inches of garden mulch around the plants (but not up against the trunks) to help retain moisture in the soil. Moerheim maintains its blue foliage throughout its growth period. Moerheim is a tree with dense foliage that reaches about 30 feet at maturity. Evergreen Trees That Can Tolerate Soil Compaction. Procumbens is striking when used on slopes or when its silvery blue-green foliage spills over a rock wall. Is Amazon actually giving you the best price? Moerheim (P. pungens 'Moerheim'), Hoopsii (P. pungens 'Hoopsii') and Iseli Fastigiata (P. pungens 'Fastigiata') are examples of large blue spruce varieties. These trees also require well-drained soil and partial to full sun in order to survive. Make sure the soil is well draining. Provides a unique accent … David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. The variety Procumbens (P. pungens 'Procumbens'), sometimes called 'Prostrata,' is a low, spreading ground cover shrub. Height: 30-60 feet. The species plant is native to the Rocky Mountain states in the United States. The large native tree is found in the Western mountainous regions of the United States. The Blue Wonder Spruce can be used as hedgerows and privacy screens in areas with limited space, making for an eye catching design that won’t impede into the neighbor’s yard. It will likely increase the length of the needs and improve the needle color. It does thrive with moderate water levels. Water sparingly and let the tree soak up the water before adding more. There is no single type of dwarf spruce, and most varieties are simply smaller versions of standard sized spruces. One of the cultivars to grow is 'Glauca,' which is a Latin word that indicates a grayish-blue color. Learn about a little known plugin that tells you if you're getting the best price on Amazon. They also look great as stand alone trees and accent pieces. In time, it may become more wide than tall and may develop one or more leaders, which should be pruned off to maintain its form. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. Amazon Doesn't Want You to Know About This Plugin. Despite the shallow roots, blue spruce is able to resist strong winds. While there is a plant called blue spruce sedum (Sedum reflexum; USDA zones 6 to 9), this tiny blue spruce look-alike is actually a variety of stonecrop, a low-growing succulent. Then water with about two inches of water to prevent fertilizer burn and incorporate the fertilizer into the water. Fat Albert has bright blue foliage and a squat, pyramidal shape. Other types of dwarf Alberta spruce trees do exist, but the "Conica" is the most frequently used. Other Names: Colorado blue spruce, Colorado spruce, and green spruce, water spruce : Tree Type: Evergreen conifer : Identification: Height: Around 50-75 ft (15.24-22.8 m) sometimes as tall as 150 ft (45.7 m) Needles: Bluish green pointed needles sizing around 1 in (3 cm) Trunk Diameter: Around 5 ft (1.5 m) Cones: Pale brown in color with an approximate length of 4 in (10.16 cm) Some people even lay the cut boughs over a shrub shelter to provide "roofing" that will help the protected bush make it through the winter in good shape. The branches have a distinct blue-green hue and are densely packed together. It forms a neat upright tree of about 30 feet. The bright blue needles hold their color all year long, but are a brighter hue in summer. It can tolerate heat to a point. Glauca), can grow 50 to 80 feet in the landscape and even taller in the wild. It is the official tree of the state of Colorado. Plant them in full sun to partial sun. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Dwarf Varieties: These are pruned to desired shapes and sizes, Gloria: A low growing variety with a mature height of 12 inches, "Moerheim" blue spruce: Grow to a medium height, with a maximum around 30 feet tall, "Iseli Foxtail" or "Foxtail" blue spruce: These varieties have an unusual pattern of needle growth on its branches. Standard sized blue spruce trees grow to a height between 82 and 89 feet (approximately 25 to 30 meters), but this particular dwarf only reaches heights between 3 and 5 feet (approximately 1 to 1.5 meters) within a 10 year span of time. Consistent pruning is required to help maintain the shape and size of the plant. Dwarf blue spruce varieties tend to have a globular form and a slow growth habit. But they are equally effective when simply used ornamentally, as specimen trees. It is a hardy, fast-growing tree with an irregular habit when young, becoming upright and pyramidal with age. Probably the strongest blue color is displayed by Hoopsii, according to Washington State University. These trees do not need frequent fertilization. Not only are they popular as Christmas trees, but their boughs are also useful in various kinds of ​Christmas decorations using greenery. A standard sized Alberta spruce reaches a height of 49 to 98 feet (approximately 15 to 30 meters), while the dwarf version can reach a height of roughly 8 feet (approximately 2.5 meters) after a 25 year maturation period. The Picea pungens "Globosa," also called the globe blue spruce, is the most common type of dwarf blue spruce even though other varieties also exist. Due to their size and conical shape, mature dwarf Alberta spruce trees are often used as Christmas trees. The Picea pungens "Globosa," also called the globe blue spruce, is the most common type of dwarf blue spruce even though other varieties also exist. This little known plugin reveals the answer. Shadows in late spring and early autumn minimize this frost heaving loss. In parks and gardens, it typically grows 30 to 60 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide. One of the cultivars to grow is 'Glauca,' which is a Latin word that indicates a grayish-blue color. This charming, globe-shaped evergreen shrub is dwarf, flat-topped and densely branched. Five years before transplanting, the total root surface area of 2-meter-high trees was doubled by pruning the roots of blue spruce. Many of the cultivated varieties, derived from the Colorado blue spruce, also grow well in these USDA zones. It also increases the root concentration in drip irrigation pip… They are members of the pine family. This dwarf spruce can readily adapt to other conditions, but a dedicated gardener or landscaper should avoid planting the shrub in full shade or in consistently soaked, packed soil. Avoid water logging the tree or creating areas with standing water. Bring the excavated dirt inside, to keep it from freezing. Picea glauca "Conica" is the most common dwarf Alberta spruce and is also the most popular dwarf spruce used in gardens and landscapes. Dig the hole in the ground for planting well before December, so you will not have to dig through frozen dirt. Native to the rocky mountains in the United States, the Colorado Blue Spruce is a member of the Pine family. These trees do best in a location with a moist, well-drained soil made fertile through the use of soil amendments. A growing trend is to buy them live (in containers) for indoor Christmas decorating, then plant them outside as landscape plants after the holiday. Most blue spruce varieties are smaller, even the large ones. These plants can be planted in rows to form windbreaks or "living-wall" privacy screens. A miniaturized version of a spruce tree with a slow growth rate is referred to as a "dwarf spruce." The native Colorado blue spruce and its natural variant, Colorado blue spruce Glauca (P. pungens var. In the wild, it can grow up to 75 feet. Medium-sized or semi-dwarf forms of Colorado blue spruce include Fat Albert (P. pungens 'Fat Albert') and Montgomery (P. pungens 'Montgomery'). The Colorado blue spruce grows at a slow to medium rate, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, although it picks up a bit as it gets older.This blue spruce grows from 12 to 24 inches a … It grows 1 foot tall and becomes 8 feet wide after 10 years. It has a globular shape and a relatively flat top. The Colorado blue spruce is tolerant of cold weather. This will give the tree an added nutrition boost. Another popular type of dwarf spruce is the dwarf blue spruce. The most common blue evergreen tree or shrub in the landscape is the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens). The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, Blue Spruce, Green Spruce, White Spruce, Colorado Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce. Tip. The species plant is native to the Rocky Mountain states in the United States. The plants can be pruned into various shapes, but a gardener or landscaper needs to do very little pruning if he or she wants the tree to keep its natural conical appearance. Its pyramidal shape, foliage color, and wonderful smell make this plant a classic choice for a Christmas tree. It grows slowly, only 3 to 6 inches per year. Blue spruce seedlings are shallow roots that penetrate only 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) of soil during the first year. The most popular dwarf spruce is the dwarf Alberta spruce, also called the dwarf white spruce, but the dwarf blue spruce is another common variety. Globe blue spruce trees thrive best when planted in full sun and in well-drained or dry soil. You will need to plant your Blue Wonders 10-20 ft. … The plant will not thrive in extremely hot and humid weather conditions. Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce Picea pungens 'Globosa' Sku #6469. These coniferous evergreen trees belong to the Picea genus, just as standard sized spruce trees do. This tree is very drought tolerant and can survive in periods of low water. Prune off half of the fresh growth on each candle (that is, the tip at which branch growth occurs each year) in spring. The Colorado Blue Spruce's silvery-blue needles are prickly to the touch and have a strong, fresh, piney smell. A poorly draining soil can result in root rot and poor growth. Make sure to water young plants during dry spells. They grow wild in forests at higher elevations, so often have to grow in rocky soil.