Picea Pungens
The Blue Spruce is also sometimes called the Colorado Blue Spruce. The Navajo and Keres Native Americans presented gifts of twigs to bring good fortune. The foliage can withstand temperature extremes. The tree forms a pyramid shape with branches growing horizontally to the ground. The botanical name pungens refers to the sharply pointed needles.
| Growth Rate | Slow growing |
| Mature Size | 80-100' tall, 10-20' spread |
| Soil | Loam, clay; rich, moist soil |
| Light | Full sunlight, not tolerant of shade |
| Leaves | ¾ to 1 ¼ in needles, individually grown on raised woody pegs off the branches |
| Cones | 4" long |
| Deer Browse Risk | Low |
| Benefits | Used for wildlife cover, providing protected nests for native songbirds due to prickly branches. Because of cold hardiness, symmetrical form and waxy, blue hued foliage it is often used in ornamental and general landscapes. Also used as in windbreaks and Christmas trees. |
