The blue color of blue spruce needles is caused by epicuticular waxes on the needles that reflect specific wavelengths of light. The more wax on a needle, the bluer it is. ... Some trees can grow decisively blue needles, but others of the same type have green or blue-green needles.

Are all blue spruces blue?

ANSWER: Not all Picea pungens (blue spruce), the state tree of Colorado and Utah, are blue. While some are quite blue in color, others have a silvery sheen to their coloration, and many native "blue" spruce are just plain fir-tree-green as you have observed.

Are blue spruces natural?

The blue spruce (Picea pungens), also commonly known as green spruce, white spruce, Colorado spruce, or Colorado blue spruce, is a species of spruce tree. It is native to North America, and is found in USDA growing zones 1 through 7. It is found naturally in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

How do you keep blue spruce blue?

Apply a chelated iron-rich fertilizer if a blue spruce develops a yellow or yellow-green color. A shortage of iron will cause the needles of a blue spruce to lose their blue coloration. The fertilizer will replace the depleted iron and help the needles regain their blue color.

What are blue spruces used for?

Uses: The Colorado blue spruce is most commonly used for windbreaks throughout the country. The thickness of the trees reduces wind velocities and can reduce soil erosion greatly. The Colorado blue spruce is not used to make lumber because of its knotty wood and weakness compared to other trees used for lumber.

Blue Spruce Christmas Tree Guide

How tall do blue spruces get?

How tall do blue spruces grow? Ornamental yard trees often reach 60 to 80 feet and 1.5 to three feet in diameter.

Is spruce wood good for anything?

Its lightweight properties and even texture makes spruce wood suitable for light construction and framing work. ... Similarly, Sitka or Silver Spruce have common use in construction of beams, joists, foundations, factories and cabins. The wood has a high durability, making it ideal for siding construction.

Can you keep a blue spruce small?

While not a true dwarf ornamental, the Baby Blue Eyes Spruce tree is the closest thing to a dwarf evergreen tree on the market today. A typical Colorado Blue Spruce will grow 50-75 feet tall and 20 feet wide. For homeowners with size constraints, this simply will not work.

What is the lifespan of a blue spruce tree?

The Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is a member of the pine tree family that is native to the Rocky Mountain regions of North America. The tree has a mature height of around 70 to 80 feet. While blue spruce grows relatively slowly, it is long-lived and may reach ages of 600-800 years.

Should I fertilize blue spruce?

Colorado Blue Spruce trees don't require frequent fertilization, but can benefit from the extra nutrients from fertilizer that can increase the length and improve the color of the needles. ... Note: If planting your spruce tree in late summer or fall, wait to feed until the following early spring.

Do blue spruce have deep roots?

Rooting Habit- Young seedlings of blue spruce are shallow rooted, with roots penetrating the soil only about 6.4 cm. ... Even in mature trees, the root system of blue spruce is relatively shallow, compared to that of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine, adapting it to the moist site on which it usually grows.

What's the fastest growing evergreen tree?

Make it quick with the Murray Cypress.

One of the fastest-growing evergreen trees, the Murray Cypress (Cupressocyparis x leylandi 'Murray') can spurt up to 4 feet in a single year until it reaches a mature height of 30 to 40 feet and a base width of 10 feet.

Is the Colorado blue spruce native to Colorado?

Picea pungens

Colorado spruce (also called blue spruce) is a pyramidal conifer native to Colorado and the central Rocky Mountains. It has been extensively planted across Nebraska in shelterbelts and landscapes and is one of the most common evergreens in communities, especially in central and western Nebraska.

Is spruce a hardwood?

Hardwood comes from trees, which lose their leaves in the winter. Trees such as Ash, Beech and Oak etc. ... Softwood trees include Pine, Larch, Spruce etc..

What is the difference between a white spruce and a Norway spruce?

Use the subtle differences between these two spruce species to tell them apart. Observe that the needles of white spruce are bluish-green and up to three-quarters of an inch long. Norway spruce has shiny dark green needles that can reach an inch in length.

What is the difference between a blue spruce and a Norway spruce?

The main difference between the Blue Spruce and Norway spruce is that the needles of the Blue Spruce are thicker and longer, which makes it more decorative. In addition, the Blue Spruce grows slower than the Norway Spruce and has a more compact size.

What kills blue spruce trees?

By far the most common complaint of cultivated blue spruces is needle cast disease, mostly that caused by the fungus Rhizospaera kalkhoffii. It infects young needles and overwinters on living or recently killed foliage. During the growing season, the spores spread to other branches, or other trees, by splashing water.

Are blue spruce trees Hardy?

Colorado Blue Spruce Planting Guide

Colorado blue spruce grows best in a sunny location with moist, well-drained, fertile soil. It tolerates dry wind and can adapt to dry soil. The tree is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 7.

How do you keep a blue spruce healthy?

Light and Water Needs. Colorado blue spruce thrives in full sun but also grows in partial shade. Once established, the tree needs a medium amount of water, with a deep soaking every two or three weeks. Even though the tree likes the soil to remain moist, especially while it's still young, it's also tolerant of drought.

Should you trim the bottom of a blue spruce?

Trimming bottom branches of blue spruce creates a neater appearance, and makes it easier to reach underneath the tree to rake or apply mulch. Create even spacing among branches by eliminating branches in thick sections of the tree to match the spacing in thinner sections.

What time of year do you trim spruce trees?

Evergreen Trees

An excellent time to prune spruce and fir is late winter when they are still dormant. Spruce and fir possess side or lateral buds. The pruning cut should be just above a side bud or branch. Pines are pruned in early June to early July when the new growth is in the "candle" stage.

How do you stop a spruce tree from growing taller?

Spray or brush a sucker growth inhibitor onto the stub of the original lead stem to keep it from forming any forked growth. Trim the tree's new growth each year to keep it from spreading outward over time. Use the loppers or tree trimmers to make the cuts.

Is it OK to burn spruce in a wood stove?

Since softwood—e.g. pine, spruce, aspen, and poplar—is less dense, it can be ready for burning in the fall if cut, split, and stacked well in early spring. But large pieces and dense hardwoods like oak and maple will need a full year to dry and be ready for burning.

Can you burn blue spruce in a wood stove?

Spruce might not be the most popular when it comes to firewood, but that's not to say that you can't use it in your fireplace or wood stove. What is this? It is a low-density softwood that has a tendency to produce lots of creosote inside of your chimney.

What are the disadvantages of spruce wood?

• Resistance from Weather: Spruce is generally durable, but it cannot handle moisture well. ...
• Resistance from Infestations: Spruce wood is soft and susceptible to insect infestations. ...
• Resistance from Weather: Pinewood's resistance to decay is low.