Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
| Needle retention | Among the best of the spruces (spruces still trail firs and pines) |
|---|---|
| Fragrance | Resinous; unpleasant when needles are crushed |
| Needles | Very sharp, 1–1.5 in: not the tree for small children or pets |
| Ornaments | Sturdy branching and an excellent natural symmetrical shape |
| Color | Dull bluish-gray to striking silvery blue |
| Grown in | Native from western Wyoming and eastern Idaho south through central Colorado and Utah, 6,000–11,000 ft |
| USDA zones | 2-7a (for planting a living tree; find your zone by ZIP) |
Worth knowing
- State tree of Colorado and Utah.
- The species name pungens means "piercing".
Care notes
Whatever the species: make a fresh half-inch cut off the trunk before it goes in the stand, use a stand that holds a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter, top it up daily, and keep the tree away from heat. Details in the care guide.
Sources: National Christmas Tree Association: Tree Varieties · PA Christmas Tree Growers Association: Selection Guide · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox