YELLOWSTONE ARBORETUM
" Stewards of the Natural Environment "
Billings, Montana @ ZooMontana
Colorado Blue Spruce
Catalogue A# 2001-012 Z67
GPS 45D 43' 47" N / 108D 37' 22" W
Picea pungens
Family; Pinaceae
Origin: Southwestern U.S.
Common name: Colorado Blue Spruce
Location: Bear Meadows-Knoll near Waterways pathway
Number in accession: (2) original (1) still in place
Curator's note: Very elegant specimen, large size, healthy, trimmed 2018
This 30 inch Blue spruce provides overall benefits of: $141 every year.
Tree or Plant Type: Tree
Foliage: Evergreen (foliage year-round)
Native Locale: North America
Landscape Uses: Screen, Shade tree, Specimen
Size Range: Large tree (more than 40 feet), Medium tree (25-40 feet)
Mature Height: 30-60 feet
Mature Width: 10-20 feet
Light Exposure: Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun/shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness Zones: Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 , Zone 6, Zone 7
Soil Preference: Moist, well-drained soil
Acid Soils: Tolerant
Alkaline Soils: Tolerant
Salt Spray: Tolerant
Soil Salt: Moderately Tolerant
Drought Conditions: Tolerant
Poor Drainage: Intolerant
Season of Interest: Early winter, Mid winter, Late winter, Early spring, Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall, Late fall
Flower Color & Fragrance: Inconspicuous
Shape or Form: Pyramidal
Growth Rate: Slow
Transplants Well: Yes
Wildlife: Browsers, Small mammals, Songbird
CRITIQUE
Blue spruce, also known as Colorado spruce, is a conical-shaped evergreen tree with stiff horizontal branches and short stiff needles. It is a commonly used tree in Midwest landscapes. In nature the needles are often green, but many specimens produce blue-green needles. This tree is also known as Picea pungens 'Glauca'.
