Colorado Blue Spruce, Picea pungens glauca, Tree Seeds


Evergreen, Adaptable, Hardy, Bonsai, Christmas Tree, Hedge Plant, Screen/Windbreak, Specimen Tree, Cold, Drought and Wind Tolerant


Colorado Blue Spruce is a medium to large, narrow, pyramidal conifer with horizontal branching to the ground. It typically grows 30 to 60 feet tall in cultivation, but may reach 100 feet or more where it grows naturally. It is native to the central Rocky Mountains from southern Montana and eastern Idaho south to New Mexico where it is typically found growing in moist locations from 6000 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Stiff, bristly, four-angled, green to blue-green to silver-blue needles (to 1 1/2 inches long) point outward from the branches in all directions. Cylindrical light brown cones, to 4 inches long, have flexible scales. Dark gray bark furrows on mature trees.


Leaf: Evergreen needles, 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long, stiff and very sharp (spine-like), displayed nearly straight out from twig, silvery blue to dark green. Strong acidic taste. Each needle borne on a raised, woody peg (sterigma).
Flower: Monoecious; males emerge reddish purple and ripen to yellow-brown, scattered throughout trees; females purple, upright, in tops of the trees.
Fruit: Cones are 2 to 4 inches long, cylindrical, light brown in color, scales are flexible, pointed with jagged erose margins, mature in the fall.
Twig: Stout (when compared to other spruces), hairless, tan; needles are borne on woody pegs; bud scales brown and noticeably reflexed.
Bark: Gray to red-brown, young trees with small, thin scales; older trees still scaly but with shallow furrows.
Form: A medium to large tree with pyramidal form reaching up to 80 feet tall. Branches appear layered, especially with age.

Other Names: Colorado Spruce

Zone: 2 to 7

Growth Rate: Slow

Plant Type: Blue Needled evergreen conifer
Family: Pinaceae

Native Range: Southern Rocky Mountains, United States
Height: 30 to 60 feet
Spread: 10 to 20 feet
Shape: Pyramidal

Sun: Full Sun
Fall Color: Evergreen

Drought Tolerance: Moderate to High

Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low

Site Requirements/ Soil Tolerances: Easily grown in average, acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Prefers rich, moist soils. Although established plants have some drought tolerance, soils should be kept consistently moist and not allowed to dry out in the early years. Generally prefers cool climates and will struggle in the heat and humidity of the deep South.

Culture:

Uses: Specimen for landscape, Windbreak, Bonsai, Christmas tree, mass plantings.


Sowing Picea pungens glauca Seeds:

For best results, please follow the instructions in the order provided.

Scarify: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours

Stratify: Cold 0-30 days, 40 Degrees F in a Moist Medium (Not wet).

Germination: Sow 1/8", Keep moist (Not wet). Seed germinates best under cool spring temperatures.

For more information about seed pretreatment and growing trees and shrubs from seed, please download this .pdf:

https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2007/08/fcpg018.pdf


Germination:

  1. Seeds Packets are labeled with seed name and sowing details.
  2. Seeds have not been pretreated unless specified in the listing.
  3. Seed is not a specific Cultivar (Variety) unless specified in the listing.
  4. Due to the many factors involved in successful germination, Seller cannot be responsible for buyers growing methods or mistakes.
  5. I have provided what I believe to be a good overview on this page (which you are free to print for further reference), however, it is still recommended to check specialist literature for more details and practices specific to your climate and soil conditions to avoid mistakes in the germination and growing process.

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