Colorado Spruce

Picea pungens

Pinaceae · coniferous tree · introduced

Last updated

Picea pungens (Pinaceae) is an evergreen conifer native to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. It grows to 75 feet tall with a dense, pyramidal form and stiff, sharp needles that range from green to silvery blue depending on provenance and cultivar. The species name "pungens" refers to the painfully sharp needle tips.

Colorado spruce tolerates drought, alkaline soils, and cold better than most spruces. It grows in full sun. Blue-foliaged selections are widely planted as ornamental specimens. In humid climates, the species is prone to Rhizosphaera needle cast and Cytospora canker, which can severely disfigure mature trees. Spider mites are also problematic in warm, dry conditions. Hardy in Zones 3a to 8b.

Plant Profile

Size & Form

Height
75 ft
Spread
16 ft
Growth Rate
Slow
Size at 20 yr
20 ft
Lifespan
Long-lived

Site Requirements

Light
Sun to Part Shade
Soil Drainage
Well Drained
Soil pH
5.5-7.8
Water
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Medium
Hardiness
Zones 3a–8b

Ornamental Interest

Bloom Time
Non-flowering
Origin
the Rocky Mountains; Colorado, Wyoming to New Mexico
Watch for this season
Cytospora CankerHigh

Peak Spore Production and Dispersal

Damping-offHigh

Seedling Emergence - Postemergence Damping-off Risk

RustHigh

Uredinial Stage (Summer)

Pine needle scaleHigh

Crawler Emergence

+ 4 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Diseases: Regionally Documented (16)

Pests: Regionally Documented (15)

Phenological Calendar

View full calendar (5 stages)
Stage Typical Window
New growth flush BBCH 11 Feb 15-Mar 15
Pollen release BBCH 61 May 1-May 31
Pollen shed complete BBCH 69 May 15-Jun 15
Cone development BBCH 71 Jun 1-Aug 31
Cone maturity and seed shed BBCH 85 Sep 1-Nov 30
Cultivars (8)
'Baby Blueeyes'
Common name: Baby Blueeyes Colorado Blue Spruce; Mature height: 10 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 2
'Blues'
Common name: The Blues Colorado Blue Spruce Weeping Colorado Blue Spruce; Mature height: 6 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 3
'Fastigiata'
Common name: Columnar Blue Spruce Fastigiata Blue Spruce
Hardy to USDA Zone 2
'Fat Albert'
Common name: Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce; Mature height: 10–15 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 2
'Glauca Globosa'
Common name: Globosa Colorado Blue Spruce Dwarf Globe Colorado Blue Spruce; Mature height: 3–5 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 3
'Glauca Prostrata'
Common name: Prostrate Colorado Blue Spruce
Hardy to USDA Zone 2
'Montgomery'
Common name: Montgomery Blue Spruce; Mature height: 5 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 2
'Globosa'
Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.