Colorado Blue Spruce

Drought tolerant, winter hardy and resistant to winter browning; provides nesting and roosting cover for small birds; commonly used on inside row of shelterbelt plantings.

Latin name: Picea pungens Engelm

Type of tree: coniferous (introduced)

• Bark (colour and texture): wrinkled, light ash-brown
• Leaves (shape, size, etc.): needle shaped; 2 to 3 centimetres in length; colour from green to blue; stiff, very sharp and borne singly
• Form: pyramidal

Height: 25 to 30 metres

Growth rate: slow to medium

Fruit and flowers: winged seeds produced in straw-coloured cones, from 7 to 10 centimetres in length; mature in August

Soil: clay or clay-loam soils preferred, but sandy soils are tolerated; poor alkali tolerance

Limitations: does not perform well on unprotected sites; will not tolerate flooding; some protection should be provided during establishment