PLANT FINDER
Blue Falls™ Spruce
Picea pungens 'Blue Falls'
Height: 12 feet
Spread: 7 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Other Names: Blue Colorado Spruce;Colorado Blue Spruce
Description:
A narrowly upright accent tree featuring gracefully weeping, cascading branches and strong blue needle color; very showy and unique, an ideal interest plant for home landscapes; very hardy and adaptable
Ornamental Features
Blue Falls™ Spruce is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its highly ornamental weeping form. It has attractive blue foliage with hints of bluish-green which emerges silvery blue in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain blue throughout the winter. The rough gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Landscape Attributes
Blue Falls™ Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a rounded form and gracefully weeping branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Blue Falls™ Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Accent
- Vertical Accent
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Blue Falls™ Spruce will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.
Characteristics
Applications
Features & Attributes