Blue Spruce
Picea pungens · Evergreen Coniferous Softwood
Plant Family
Pinaceae
Tree Category
Conifer, Ornamental, Specimen Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Hoopsii or Fat Albert (commonly cultivated for intense silvery-blue color)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 7
About This Tree
A striking evergreen conifer with a symmetrical, pyramidal form, dense branching, and stiff needles ranging from green to vibrant silvery-blue. Often used as a prominent landscape specimen or windbreak.
Leaf Characteristics
Stiff, sharp, four-sided needles about 1 inch long, spirally arranged on the twig, varying in color from blue-green to silvery-blue
Bark Characteristics
Grayish-brown, thin, and scaly on young trees, developing narrow, vertical furrows and flat ridged plates on older trunks
Growing Information
Origin Region
Rocky Mountain region of North America
Growing Season
Evergreen with active spring flush of new growth; cones mature in autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for best needle color. Prefers moderate moisture with well-draining soil, but establishes good drought tolerance once mature.
Mature Size
Reaches 30 to 60 feet in height with a spread of 10 to 20 feet; moderate growth rate; long lifespan exceeding 50 to 100 years
Special Characteristics
Exceptional cold hardiness, striking ornamental blue color, highly adaptable to urban pollution, but susceptible to needle cast diseases in humid climates
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides thermal cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals; seeds are consumed by squirrels and various birds