The most common blue evergreen tree or shrub in the landscape is the Colorado gamy spruce ( Picea pungens ) . The blue spruce , also normally known as Colorado spruce or Colorado dispirited spruce , is a species of spruce tree diagram native to North America in Arizona , Colorado , Idaho , New Mexico , Utah and Wyoming .
Colorado blue spruce ( Picea pungens ) makes a proud specimen tree , whether you produce it outdoors or take it indoors as a Christmas tree . This gorgeous tree is low - sustenance . It grows up to 100 foot grandiloquent in the wild , and nursery tree reach 60 feet marvellous . It is often called the Colorado blue spruce because it is feel throughout the country , and because it is Colorado ’s United States Department of State Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant life hardiness zone 2 through 8 , the blue spruce will live for many years if cared for properly .
In the wild , the Colorado blue spruce can live 200 age or more . In the home landscape , it usually stays salubrious for about 40 to 60 years , after which its health start to fail . Once constitute , it becomes more drought - tolerant , which allows it to live on in areas with less frequent rainfall .
Picea , the genus name , is thought to come from the Latin wordpixmeaning “ pitch ” , a reference to the typical unenviable rosin in spiffy bark . The specific epithetpungensmeans “ sharp pointed ” , referring to the leaves . George Engelmann cater the first valid scientific description of Picea pungens in 1879 . The most frequently used coarse name in English is “ down in the mouth spruce , ” which was first used for other trees in 1817 . “ Colorado blue spruce ” was first used in 1912 , and “ Colorado spruce ” date back to 1881 .
This spruce does good in coolheaded climate and can not endure heat energy and humidity . It may tolerate the summer weather condition in the North Carolina hatful . This tree can be grown in average , well - debilitate soils in full sun , although it will suffer some shade . It prefers rich , moist soil in full sunlight . Young trees should be kept systematically dampish and not allow to dry out . As this spruce matures , it becomes more drought tolerant and is overall more drouth tolerant than other spruces . It has a slow to intermediate growth pace .
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) Distribution
The Colorado Blue Spruce ( Picea pungens ) is primarily native to the fundamental and southerly Rocky Mountains of the western United States . Its range gallop from southern and western Wyoming , eastern Idaho , south to Utah , northerly and eastern Arizona , southern New Mexico , and central Colorado . It has also been reported in isolated locations in north - primal Montana1 .
This Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree prosper in a climatic geographical zone that is generally nerveless and humid , with most of the annual precipitation hap in the summer . The mingy one-year temperatures where the drab spruce is most commonly witness range from 3.9 ° to 6.1 ° C ( 39 ° to 43 ° F ) , with a January mean value of -3.9 ° to -2.8 ° degree centigrade ( 25 ° to 27 ° F ) and a July mean value of 13.9 ° to 15.0 ° one C ( 57 ° to 59 ° F ) . The frost - liberal menstruum from June to August is about 55 to 60 days1 .
The Colorado Blue Spruce grow best with abundant moisture but can stand firm drouth better than any other spruce . It can also endure extremely downhearted temperature ( -40 ° nose candy ; -40 ° F ) and is more insubordinate to high-pitched siriasis and hoarfrost damage than other associated species .
Characteristics of Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
Facts About Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
The Navajo and Keres Native Americans habituate this tree diagram as a traditional medicative plant and a ceremonial point , and twigs are give as giving to bring unspoiled fortune . In traditional medicine , an infusion of the needles is used to treat low temperature and settle the breadbasket . This liquid is also used outwardly for creaky infliction .
The gamey spruce is the country tree of Colorado . It officially became Colorado ’s state tree diagram on 8 April 2025 when House Joint Resolution 7 was enact by the legislature . Previously a vote of the state ’s school children was taken on Arbor Day in 1892 expressing their preference for the blue spruce as the body politic Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
From 1933 until 2014 the blue spruce was also the state tree diagram of Utah . It was replaced by the quaking aspen because the aspen is a capital bargain more vulgar than the blue spruce in Utah , making up 10 % of the state of matter ’s tree diagram cover
