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

Colorado spruce

Picea pungens 'Montgomery'

Colorado spruce (Picea pungens 'Montgomery') is a medium-sized evergreen conifer with a narrow pyramidal shape. It has a dense, bright blue-green foliage and weeping branches, making it very attractive in landscapes. It requires full sun to partial shade and can reach up to 25 feet in height with a 15-20 foot spread. It is extremely cold tolerant, surviving temperatures as low as -45 degrees Fahrenheit. Color will be deep blue when exposed to full sun and slightly less intense in partial shade. The bark is silver-gray, rough, and ridged, becoming scaly over time.

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

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Moderate

watering

Colorado Spruce is a species of coniferous evergreen tree that should be watered once or twice a week, depending on the weather. During the spring and summer months, it should receive 1-2 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or supplementary watering. During the winter months, water it only when the soil appears dry. When giving Colorado Spruce supplemental water, it should be done slowly and thoroughly so that the water has time to percolate to the root system. Remember that if an area gets frequent rain, you should only water your plant if the soil is noticeably dry.

sunlight

Colorado Spruce requires moderate to full sun (at least 4 to 6 hours daily) for optimal health. It can (in some cases) tolerate partial shade, but growth and foliage color may be affected. It prefers cooler climates, and can withstand some winter cold with temperatures reaching as low as -20 degrees.

pruning

Colorado spruce (Picea pungens 'Montgomery') should be pruned in late winter or early spring depending on its size and growth habit. For smaller trees, prune back shoots that are growing aggressively, or crossed branches. Also remove deadwood, which can be recognized by its gray color. If trying to maintain a certain shape, also prune for form. Depending on the size of the tree and desired shape, prune just enough to reduce the overall size with out drastically changing its form. Always ensure to not remove too much of the naturally showing like or delicate branch structure.

Season

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

Colorado spruce typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Colorado spruce typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map