Picea pungens, commonly known as Colorado Blue Spruce, is an iconic evergreen conifer prized for its striking blue-gray needle coloration and symmetrical pyramidal form. Native to the Rocky Mountains, this hardy tree is a favorite for landscapes, offering year-round visual interest and a formal structure to gardens. Its stiff, sharp needles and dense branching create excellent windbreaks or privacy screens. Colorado Blue Spruce thrives in a range of soil conditions and can withstand cold winters, making it a popular choice for ornamental and functional planting.
- Light: Full sun
- Water need: Moderate
- Growth rate: Slow to medium
- Mature size (HxW): 30–60' x 10–20'
- Habit: Pyramidal
- Bloom/interest: Needle foliage (blue-gray); cones
- Hardiness zone: 2–7
- Soil tolerance: Well-drained; adapts to a range of soils
- Drought/heat tolerance: Moderate
