Blue Spruce
Picea pungens · Evergreen, Coniferous, Softwood
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Conifer, Ornamental, Specimen Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Hoopsii or Glauca (typical blue coloration)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 7
About This Tree
Pyramidal to conical evergreen conifer with dense, stiff, horizontal branching and distinctive silvery-blue to blue-green needle foliage, growing at a slow to moderate rate into a prominent landscape specimen
Leaf Characteristics
Stiff, sharp, four-sided needles ranging from blue-green to silvery-blue, arranged spirally on twigs, pungent when crushed
Bark Characteristics
Thin, gray-brown to reddish-brown bark that becomes furrowed and scaly in narrow ridges as the tree ages
Growing Information
Origin Region
Rocky Mountains of North America, adapted widely across temperate zones
Growing Season
Evergreen year-round; new growth emerges in late spring as brighter blue-green needles; cones develop in summer and mature by autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required for best color; moderate water needs once established, prefers evenly moist, well-draining soils but tolerates brief dry spells
Mature Size
Height of 30 to 60 feet (sometimes up to 100 feet in native habitat), spread of 10 to 20 feet, slow to moderate growth rate, long lifespan of 50 to 150+ years
Special Characteristics
Exceptional ornamental blue foliage, highly cold hardy, tolerates heavy snow, moderate drought tolerance once established, often used as a specimen tree or windbreak
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides thermal cover and nesting sites for various songbirds and small mammals; seeds consumed by squirrels and crossbills