Family: Pinaceae
Common Name: Colorado blue spruce
Origin/Ecology: Native to northwest U.S.
Habit: Medium to large, narrow, pyramidal conifer with horizontal branching to the ground. Grows 30-60′ tall in cultivation; can reach 100′ in the wild.
Leaves: Stiff, bristly, four-angled, green to blue-green to silver-blue needles (to 1.5″ long) point outward from the branches in all directions. Sharp.
Leaf Arrangement: spiral
Flowers and Fruit: Cylindrical light brown cones (to 4″ long) have flexible scales.
Bark: Dark grey bark furrows on mature trees.
Water Use, Soil: Average, acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prefers rich, moist soils.
Exposure: Full sun. Tolerates some light shade.
Landscape Uses: Specimen.
Limitations: Needle cast, canker, rust, aphids, scale, budworms, bagworms, spider mites.
Other Features: