Colorado Blue Spruce Facts That All Nature Lovers Will Adore

 Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) belongs to the spruce species and is also popularly known as the green spruce, white spruce, or the Colorado spruce.

These blue spruce (Picea pungens) trees are a member of the pine family and are native to the Rocky Mountains regions of North America. Their height increases from less than 12-24 in (30-60 cm) per year at a slow and medium rate and grows around 70-80 ft (21-24 m) in the wild.

These species are naturally found in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico and are grown elsewhere for decorative purposes. Blue spruce trees are monoecious, and both the male and female cones are produced in distinct parts of the same tree.

Cones are hard, dry, and pale brown. The female cones are found on the top of the trees, while the male cones are usually found in lower branches.

The female cone is usually green, orange, and purple and develops into a gametophyte, and the smaller male cones mature from reddish to brown and lose pollen grains. During the first year, the shallow roots of the blue spruce penetrate about 2.5 in (6.35 cm) in the soil.

During the late spring and early autumn or early fall, the long shadows minimize the seedling loss caused due to frost.

Did you know that many use Colorado blue spruces as trees for the holiday season?

If you find this article on Colorado blue spruce facts informative, check out our other fun facts articles on plant life and trees like Palmetto tree and Palm tree facts.

Colorado Blue Spruce Tree Care

Blue spruces are adaptive to many soils, from the acidic, loamy, moist, sandy to the clay soil.

These trees and plants are found in gardens, landscapes, designer projects, and houseplants. In 1892, the school children of Colorado voted on Arbor Day to name blue spruce as the state tree.

The state tree can be grown with less maintenance; though it prefers full sun, it grows well in partial shade. You have to ensure a space that will allow the spruce tree to maintain its conical shape and grow slowly and compactly.

It is a long-lived tree and may also reach an age of 600-800 years.

Comparatively, the Colorado blue spruce tree is drought tolerant and does not require a consistent water supply to bloom. Water is needed during the dry season and the first couple of seasons at the rooting process time of the plant.

Needle cast disease is a common non-infectious stress-like fungus, Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii, found on these trees. The spores spread on other branches and trees during the growing season by splashing water and affecting the needles. Under these circumstances, it is advised to spray fungicide as instructed.

The bottom branches can be trimmed to make it easy to apply mulch underneath the tree. To create even spacing, the thick sections of branches can be eliminated. Great care must be taken while sowing a seedling to ensure proper lighting and moist soil.

Spruce Bark Beetle

The great spruce bark beetle is also known as the great European spruce bark beetle. The beetle tunnel into the barks of living trees and lay their eggs, and the larvae from the eggs feed on the inner woody layers, weakening and at times killing the tree.

Deteriorating and poor health condition of the tree could signify the beetle's presence. Newly emerged adults are generally light brown and later darken to black as they mature.

Varieties of Colorado Blue Spruce Trees

There are more than 100 named varieties of Colorado spruce, and all are not blue spruce.

These plants range from 3 ft (1 m) to tall towering trees. These trees have blue needles and are found in a range of shades.

The light blue variety is known as the Glauca, and the weeping blue spruce Glauca pendula are named for the deep blue-green color needles; these trees grow along the ground. Shorter varieties are available, including Glauca globosa, Glauca jean's dilly, and Fat Albert.

One of the most popular evergreen ornamental semi-dwarf trees is the baby blue eyes spruce. Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) belong to the Picea genus and include 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae.

The common name of Picea pungens is blue spruce and Colorado spruce. It is considered along with pines, firs, hemlocks, cedars, and larches and is part of the Pinaceae family. You can identify a spruce tree or plant by simply examining its needles.

The Picea is native to the northern hemisphere. These trees are long-living trees, and the oldest spruce found is a Picea engelmannii aged 852 years and is still blooming.

Common Pests/Diseases

The spruce tree is a coniferous tree and has blue-green colored needles.

These trees are prone to non-infectious stresses caused due to abiotic factors like temperature, light, and water. If you notice that your blue spruce is turning brownish, it indicates a needle cast disease.

The needles begin to shed once they turn brown, red, or yellow. The shape of the needles can identify blue spruce and Douglas fir. The spruce needles are spiny and sharp, and the Douglas fir needles are flat and soft and cannot be rolled between the fingertips.

 All diseases caused to the trees are by fungal pathogens happening in late summer or late spring. Three types of diseases affect these trees: needle casts, tip blights, and canker diseases.

The needle cast disease is one of the most common problems found on these trees; however, it affects the most on Colorado blue spruce.

The most destructive fungal disease is the Cytospora canker, caused by the fungus Cytospora kunzei and most commonly affects trees older than 15 years. The drying up of branches commonly found on Colorado blue spruce tree or plant are caused due to insect pests or some disease.

 The mite populations are common insects that damage the blue spruce trees. The spruce spider mites breed during hot and dry conditions. Insecticides like pyrethroids and carbaryl are applied to the tree's stem to protect the trees from the attacking beetle adults.

Plant And Protect Trees

Proper light and water are the best way to ensure a healthy blue spruce plant.

The plant does not require a high amount of phosphorous; hence an acidic fertilizer is used to grow these trees. November to March is the best time to plant the Colorado blue spruce.

Exposure to the full sun, loose draining soil, and enough spacing will ensure the healthy growth of these plants. The bright blue color of the blue spruce trees makes them popular Christmas trees. Their strong limbs can hold heavy ornaments and their pyramidal shape enhances their looks.

 The spruce wood, also called whitewood, is used to make planks for crafting stringed musical instruments and used as molds.

The thickness of the trees decreases wind velocities and helps in reducing soil erosion. The Engelmann spruce and the Colorado blue spruce contain vitamin C, and creative cooks exploit its tart flavor.

A couple of needles are enough to prepare a cup of tea. Some prefer putting the needles and twigs into honey and making it their favorite spruce. The bark is used for cooking pots and trays.

However, despite these uses, we mustn't overindulge in our usage. We must take steps to plant and protect these trees!

 Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Colorado blue spruce facts, then why not look at facts about trees or are palm trees native to California?