Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

Sun Needs:

• Full sun
• Requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Tolerates some light shade but may lose lower branches over time

Bloom Time:

• Spring (not grown for flowers)
• Produces small, reddish male and female cones
• Female cones mature into cylindrical, light brown cones

Size:

Height: 30 to 60 feet tall (can reach up to 75 feet in ideal conditions)
Width: 10 to 20 feet wide

Attributes:

• Dense, pyramidal form with stiff, sharp needles
• Silvery-blue to blue-green foliage
• Long, cylindrical cones (2–4 inches)
• Cold-hardy and wind-tolerant
• Provides excellent cover and nesting for birds
• Popular as a landscape specimen or privacy screen

Care Tips:

• Plant in well-drained, slightly acidic soil
• Water regularly during establishment; moderately drought-tolerant once mature
• Mulch to conserve moisture and protect roots
• Avoid overwatering or planting in poorly drained soils
• Prune in late winter if shaping is needed
• Monitor for pests like spruce gall adelgids, spider mites, and needle cast diseases