Taxonomy
Clade | gymnosperm |
Family | Pinaceae |
Genus | Picea |
Species | pungens |
Common Name | blue spruce, Colorado spruce |
iTree Code | PIPU |
Plant Form
Form | A medium sized conifer growing between 30' and 60' tall. |
Height | 60 feet |
Spread | 20 feet |
Deciduous | No |
Identification Description
Foliage | singly attached needles, very sharply points; green or bluish in color; pungent odor when crushed |
Leaf Type
|
Needle |
Needles | 1 |
Bark | grayish-brown flaky or scaly; frequent bluish sap oozing from wounds |
Bud | conical, orange or brown, scales may appear as opening |
Twig | orange on current year’s growth; then gray in later years |
Pollen Cone | male (strobili) orange to red; female (strobili) green to purple, typically in the upper canopy |
Seed Cone | papery cone 3-5” long, with fringed scales; brown to golden in color, hanging down on branch |
Fall Color | green, blue |
Site Characteristics
USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance |
Min | 3a |
Min | 4.0 |
Soil | High |
Max | 7a |
Max | 7.8 |
Spray | High |
Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
Intermediate |
Intolerant |
Unknown |