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Picea pungens (Blue spruce): Information.
Identifying characteristics: This species is also called the Colorado blue spruce. It has a dense, pyramidal shape with stiff, horizontal branches often becoming open, irregular and unattractive with age. The trunk is straight and tapers to the top of the tree which can be to 60 feet high (or even 135 feet in the wild). Foliage color varies according to individual and habitat, and can be silvery-white or even dull green, but is most often blue-green. Grafting limits the chances of undesired color variations. The sharp-pointed, stiff needles are 0.75 to 1.25 inches long, 4-sided and incurved, with white stomatic lines on each side. The name "pungens" alludes to the sharp, resinous odor of crushed leaves and perhaps the acidic taste when chewed. The hanging cones are 2 to 4 inches long and cylindrical, tapering at the ends. The pale, shiny-brown cone scales are flexible, with blunt, jaggedly-toothed margins at the apex. Good seed crops are produced every 3 to 4 years, the dark brown seeds having wedge-shaped wings twice the length of the seed. New twigs are distinctly orange-colored. The yellowish-brown, non-resinous buds are broad or bluntly-conical with reflexed or loosely appressed scales. The bark is pale gray, becoming reddish-brown or gray and furrowed with scaly ridges with age. Similar species: Ecology: Distribution: This species is native to the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming. Habitat: Blue spruces grow as scattered trees or in small groups at middle elevations of the Rocky Mountains on sites where there is a high moisture-level. A deep root system anchors the tree against the wind. Although it prefers deep, rich, moist soil, and full sun, it is hardy from zone 2 to 8, and very adaptable and more drought-tolerant than most plants of this genus. It is a slow-growing, long-lived species (up to 800 years). It is susceptible to fungal needle cast, fungal cankers, spruce bark beetle, spruce budworm and spruce gall aphid. Uses: Wood: The pale brown wood is similar to white spruce (P. glauca), but is brittle and knotty. Because of these undesirable properties, and because it often grows in inaccessible sites, it is not used commercially for timber. Wildlife: Spruces serve northern wildlife species on a limited scale. Grouse eat the needles; deer and rabbits browse the foliage and twigs; and birds and small rodents feed on the seeds. The evergreen foliage provides winter cover for various wildlife species. Horticulture: The blue spruce is widely used as an ornamental in the eastern US and in Europe. It is a popular choice for the Iowa landscaper, and particularly useful in dry locations. The stiff, pyramidal, formal appearance and predominantly blue foliage can make this a difficult tree to place in a pleasing position in the landscape. It may be used as a specimen tree or planted in groups. 'Thompsenii' is reported to be an excellent cultivar, with dense foliage, symmetrical form and silvery-white, bluish foliage. 'Fat Albert' is a dense, blue-foliaged, pyramidal selection. A good ground-cover type is 'Glauca Pendula.'

Picea pungens (Blue spruce): Information.

Identifying characteristics:
This species is also called the Colorado blue spruce. It has a dense, pyramidal shape with stiff, horizontal branches often becoming open, irregular and unattractive with age. The trunk is straight and tapers to the top of the tree which can be to 60 feet high (or even 135 feet in the wild). Foliage color varies according to individual and habitat, and can be silvery-white or even dull green, but is most often blue-green. Grafting limits the chances of undesired color variations. The sharp-pointed, stiff needles are 0.75 to 1.25 inches long, 4-sided and incurved, with white stomatic lines on each side. The name "pungens" alludes to the sharp, resinous odor of crushed leaves and perhaps the acidic taste when chewed. The hanging cones are 2 to 4 inches long and cylindrical, tapering at the ends. The pale, shiny-brown cone scales are flexible, with blunt, jaggedly-toothed margins at the apex. Good seed crops are produced every 3 to 4 years, the dark brown seeds having wedge-shaped wings twice the length of the seed. New twigs are distinctly orange-colored. The yellowish-brown, non-resinous buds are broad or bluntly-conical with reflexed or loosely appressed scales. The bark is pale gray, becoming reddish-brown or gray and furrowed with scaly ridges with age.

Similar species:

Ecology:
Distribution: This species is native to the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Habitat: Blue spruces grow as scattered trees or in small groups at middle elevations of the Rocky Mountains on sites where there is a high moisture-level. A deep root system anchors the tree against the wind. Although it prefers deep, rich, moist soil, and full sun, it is hardy from zone 2 to 8, and very adaptable and more drought-tolerant than most plants of this genus. It is a slow-growing, long-lived species (up to 800 years). It is susceptible to fungal needle cast, fungal cankers, spruce bark beetle, spruce budworm and spruce gall aphid.

Uses:
Wood: The pale brown wood is similar to white spruce (P. glauca), but is brittle and knotty. Because of these undesirable properties, and because it often grows in inaccessible sites, it is not used commercially for timber.

Wildlife: Spruces serve northern wildlife species on a limited scale. Grouse eat the needles; deer and rabbits browse the foliage and twigs; and birds and small rodents feed on the seeds. The evergreen foliage provides winter cover for various wildlife species.

Horticulture: The blue spruce is widely used as an ornamental in the eastern US and in Europe. It is a popular choice for the Iowa landscaper, and particularly useful in dry locations. The stiff, pyramidal, formal appearance and predominantly blue foliage can make this a difficult tree to place in a pleasing position in the landscape. It may be used as a specimen tree or planted in groups. 'Thompsenii' is reported to be an excellent cultivar, with dense foliage, symmetrical form and silvery-white, bluish foliage. 'Fat Albert' is a dense, blue-foliaged, pyramidal selection. A good ground-cover type is 'Glauca Pendula.'