Species Colorado spruce
short, needle-like, silver-blue foliage with brown stems

Colorado spruce

Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'

Colorado spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert') is an attractive, broad-pyramidal conifer commonly used in landscaping. It has soft, glossy green needles and an easy-to-care-for nature even in cold winter climates. This slow-growing evergreen is admired for its compact, densely-branched form and rich, full foliage. With its pleasing silhouette and bright blue-green needles, the Colorado spruce is a welcome addition to any home garden and an ideal choice for planting in parks and civic landscapes as well.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Grafting Propagation,Layering Propagation,Air Layering Propagation,Tissue Culture

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 7

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Cones:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Maintenance:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Moderate

watering

Colorado spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert') should be watered thoroughly once or twice a week in the summer from April to September. During the colder winter months, October through March, it should be watered a little less often, about every 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure to check the soil to ensure the root system does not get soggy and water only when the top of the soil feels dry.

sunlight

Colorado Spruce requires a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. During the peak growing months of April to August, between 8-10 hours of sun per day is ideal. The sunlight should be spread across the entire day for best results. In the winter months from October to March, the sun should be at least 4-6 hours per day. When growing in a container, Colorado Spruce can benefit from a few hours of indirect sunlight in addition to direct sunlight.

pruning

Colorado spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert') should be pruned during the late spring or early summer. It is best to avoid pruning in fall, as any new growth in late fall will not have a chance to harden off before winter, making the new growth very vulnerable to cold temperatures. Prune only as much as needed to maintain form or remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches, as large or severe pruning can challenge this species.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map