Colorado Blue Spruce 20/40cm (P9)

The Colorado Blue Spruce Picea pungens is a magnificent evergreen that adds a slice of Rocky Mountain charm to gardens. This remarkable tree is celebrated for its eye-catching blue-grey foliage that stands out beautifully amongst traditional green plants. It’s perfect for gardeners wanting to create lasting interest and visual impact in their outdoor spaces.

This spruce develops the classic conical Christmas tree silhouette with its neat pyramidal growth habit. As a relatively slow grower, it puts on roughly 30cm each year, so you won’t need to worry about it taking over your garden too quickly. While it can eventually reach 15-25 metres in ideal conditions, most garden specimens tend to remain more compact.

The tree’s most impressive quality is undoubtedly its colouring. Those distinctive blue-grey needles get their appearance from a natural waxy coating. The colour is particularly vibrant on fresh spring growth, creating a wonderful seasonal highlight. Trees positioned in full sun tend to develop the most intense blue tones.

This spruce is incredibly resilient and hardy right across the country. It handles various growing conditions well, including dry spells once it’s properly established. It’s also quite tolerant of air pollution, which makes it suitable for urban gardens.

The tree offers great flexibility in garden design. It works brilliantly as a standout specimen where its unique colour and form create an attractive focal point. Alternatively, group several together for an unusual blue-tinted hedge or windbreak. It complements both contemporary and traditional garden styles, bringing colour and structure throughout the seasons.

Bird lovers will appreciate how the dense branching provides excellent shelter, particularly during winter months. The thick foliage offers protection from bad weather and predators.

For anyone seeking a striking, low-fuss evergreen that delivers interest all year round, Colorado Blue Spruce ticks all the boxes. Its gorgeous blue-grey needles bring something special to any garden setting, creating an impressive feature that guests will remember. Whether you’re starting fresh or adding character to an established garden, this spruce makes an excellent addition.

Colorado Blue Spruce is pretty easy to look after, which is great news for busy UK gardeners. It’s happiest in full sun, where its blue colour will be at its most intense, but it can handle partial shade too. It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil, but is adaptable to various soil types. When you first plant it, water regularly for the first growing season to help it establish. After that, it’s fairly drought-tolerant. You don’t need to feed it much – a light application of general-purpose fertiliser in spring is enough. Pruning isn’t usually necessary unless you want to shape it or remove any dead or damaged branches.

Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height
20–50 years

Ultimate spread
1.5–2.5 metres

🇬🇧 UK grown