Colorado Blue Spruce Tree

Colorado Blue Spruce Tree is a breathtaking blue-green evergreen conifer with an attractive dense, pyramidal shape. This stately tree can immediately elevate your property, reaching impressive mature heights of 50 to 75 feet, and creating a dramatic focal point. Its classic shape is perfect as a natural Christmas tree centerpiece. Its needles are stiff, sharp, and feature a stunning, powdery blue-green to silver-blue hue that provides outstanding year-round color. Colorado Blue Spruce Tree provides a spectacular contrast against green landscapes, especially in winter. Its dense form makes it an excellent windbreak and screen for privacy, in addition, it is highly deer resisant.This evergreen is famously hardy and drought-tolerant once established, providing a low maintenance monument of beauty in your garden for generations.

Also Known As: Colorado Blue Spruce Tree, Blue Spruce, Picea Pungens, Silver Spruce, Colorado Spruce, Blue Picea, White Spruce, Green Spruce, Conifer Spruce, Rocky Mountain Spruce, Parry Spruce, Épinette Bleue, Pino Real, Prickly Spruce.

*Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds.
**Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates.

Planting Instructions:

Soil Preparation:

Choose a clear, sunny location that is not in the shade of other trees and receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Trees establish roots better in sandy, well-drained soils rather than heavy, poorly drained soil. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 6-8 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots. If the soil is heavy or clay-like, mix in some sand or compost to improve drainage. Optionally, either form rows of soil beds or hills 4-6 inches high and at least 25 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage, ensure good airflow, and make harvesting or maintenance easier. Lay down 1/2"-3/4" peat moss, sawdust, or potting soil, the soil surface. This layer is beneficial because it can the improve the germination environment and prevent soil crusting.

Planting:

Starting Indoors: Seed germination rate may benefit from cold, moist stratification though it is not required. To prepare, soak seeds 24 hours in room-temperature tap water. To stratify, roll seeds in a damp paper towel or mix them with damp sand and place in a resealable bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator to keep seeds at 35F-40F for 4-6 weeks, mimicking winter conditions. After the stratification period, seeds should be ready to germinate. To germinate seeds, place the bags in a warm 70F-90F area. After 10 days, plant the seeds in small pots with moist potting soil and in a warm, sunny location that is at least 65F, about 1 month after the last expected frost in spring. Keep the soil moist, allowing the top inch of soil to dry in between waterings.

Once the seedlings have developed a few sets of leaves and are at least 6 inches in height, harden off seedlings then transplant outdoors in the spring, in a sunny location when temperatures are consistently above 60F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny, permanent location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting.

Directly Sowing: If directly sowing outdoors, plant seeds in early Spring to naturally cold-stratify seeds. To plant, make holes 1/4 inch deep and spaced 15-25 feet apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 5 seeds per hole, then cover thinly with soil. Or, broadcast over a small plot and separate seedlings once plants emerge. Seedbeds can be covered with plastic film to promote germination. Water after planting.

Care During the Season:

Colorado Blue Spruce Tree care is relatively simple but thoughtful care can help maintain the tree's blue-green color. Spring is the time for light fertilization (if needed, with a slow-release, balanced evergreen formula) and ensuring proper drainage; apply a layer of mulch (avoiding the trunk) to regulate soil temperature and moisture. Summer care is focused on consistent, deep watering, especially during dry spells, to support its deep root system, and monitoring for common pests like spider mites or needle cast fungus, applying treatments early if any issues are detected. As Fall approaches, reduce watering but ensure the tree is well-hydrated before the ground freezes, which is crucial for preventing winter burn. Winter requires no direct care other than protecting young trees from heavy snow or ice loads by gently brushing them off, and applying anti-desiccant spray in exposed, windy locations to minimize moisture loss and maintain its signature color.