Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens, Gard. Chron., n.s., 11: 334 (1879))

Family: Pinaceae

Author: Engelm.

Bibliography: Gard. Chron., n.s., 11: 334 (1879)

Year: 1879

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Picea

Vegetable: False

Observations: U.S.A. (Rocky Mts.)

Description

The Colorado blue spruce, known scientifically as Picea pungens, is a distinguished evergreen tree that belongs to the Pinaceae family. This magnificent conifer is indigenous to the Rocky Mountains region of the United States, where it thrives in the cool, moist conditions of the high altitudes.

Described for the first time by Engelmann in the 19th century and recorded in the “Gardener’s Chronicle” of 1879, the Colorado blue spruce is celebrated for its stunning blue-green foliage, which lends a strikingly unique hue to natural landscapes and cultivated gardens alike. This vibrant coloration is due to the waxy layer on its needles, which varies from silvery-blue to steely green, depending on the tree’s particular environmental conditions.

The tree can grow up to 75 feet tall, making it a prominent feature in any landscape. It has a unique pyramidal shape with dense branches that spread horizontally, providing an ideal habitat for various bird species. The needles of the Colorado blue spruce are stiff and sharply pointed, with a notable pungency—hence its specific name “pungens.”

This hardy spruce is not just appreciated for its aesthetic value but also for its practical uses. It is popular in landscaping and as a Christmas tree. The resilience of this tree under harsh climatic conditions makes it a favorite for windbreaks and privacy screens.

The botanical history and geographical importance of the Colorado blue spruce underscore its significant role in both natural ecosystems and human cultivation efforts, reflecting a storied legacy from the heights of the Rocky Mountains to gardens around the world.

Common Names

Ita: abete del colorado, picea pungente
Deu: blau-fichte, blaufichte, blautanne, kolorado-fichte, stech-fichte, stech-fichte, blaufichte, stechfichte
Eng: blue spruce, colorado blue spruce, colorado spruce, silver spruce, colorado blue-spruce
Dan: blå-gran, kolorado-gran
Nor: blågran
Nld: colorado spar, blauwe spar
Hun: szúrós luc
Spa: pino real, pícea azul, pícea de colorado
Fra: sapin bleu, épicéa du colorado, épicéa bleu, épinette glauque, épinette du colorado, épicéa piquant, épinette bleue
Slk: smrek pichlavý
Ces: smrk pichlavý
Swe: stickgran, blågran
Rus: ель колорадская, ель колючая
Zho: 北美云衫 (bei mei yun shan)
En: Colorado blue spruce, Colorado spruce, Blue spruce, Pino real, Silver spruce, Colorado Blue-Spruce, Hickory Pine, Moutain Pine
Ar: تنوب شائك
Hy: Եղևնի արծաթագույն
Az: Tikanlı küknar
Be: Елка блакітная
Bg: Син смърч
Ca: Pícea pungent, Picea pungent
Zh: 藍葉雲杉, 北美云衫 (bei mei yun shan)
Hr: Srebrna smreka
Cs: Smrk pichlavý
Da: Blå-Gran, Kolorado-gran
Nl: Blauwe spar, Blauwspar, Colorado spar
Et: Torkav kuusk
Fi: Okakuusi
Fr: Épicéa bleu, Sapin bleu, Épicéa du Colorado, Épinette glauque, Épinette du Colorado, Épicéa piquant, Épinette bleue
Ka: Ვერცხლისფერი ნაძვი
De: Stechfichte, Stech-Fichte, Blau-Fichte, Blaufichte, Blautanne, Kolorado-Fichte, Stech-Fichte, Blaufichte, Blau Fichte, Stech Fichte
He: אשוחית כחולה
Hu: Szúrós luc
Is: Broddgreni
It: Picea pungente, Abete del Colorado, Abete azzurro, Peccio del Colorado
Lt: Dygioji eglė
Mk: Бодликава смрча
Nv: Chʼódeenínii
No: Blågran
Ps: شين صنوبر
Fa: صنوبر آبی
Pl: Świerk kłujący
Ro: Brad argintiu
Ru: Ель колючая, Ель колорадская
Sr: Бодљива смрча
Sk: Smrek pichľavý, Smrek pichlavý
Es: Pino real, Pícea azul, Pícea de Colorado, Abeto de Colorado, Abeto de Parry, Picea azul, Picea del Colorado
Sv: Stickgran, Blågran
Tr: Mavi ladin
Uk: Ялина колюча
Cy: Spriwsen Las

Synonyms

• Pinus parryana ((André) Voss)
• Picea pungens f. argentea ((R.C.Rosenthal) Beissn.)
• Picea pungens f. glauca ((Regel) Beissn.)
• Abies parlatorei (Dallim. & A.B.Jacks.)
• Picea pungens f. hunnewelliana ((Hornibr.) Rehder)
• Picea parryana ((André) Sarg.)
• Picea parryana argentea (R.C.Rosenthal)
• Picea menziesii var. parryana (André)
• Abies menziesii var. parryana (André)
• Picea pungens f. glauca-pendula (H.Kost. ex Beissn.)
• Picea pungens f. typica (Schwer.)
• Picea pungens f. pendula (Schwer.)
• Picea pungens f. viridis ((Regel) O.L.Lipa)
• Picea commutata (Beissn.)
• Picea pungens f. coerulea (Beissn.)
• Picea pungens var. kosteriana (A.Henry)
• Picea pungens subvar. pendula (Mouill.)
• Picea pungens var. hunnewelliana (Hornibr.)
• Picea pungens var. viridis (Regel)
• Picea pungens f. perpendicularis (Schwer.)
• Picea pungens var. compacta ((Rehder) Rehder)
• Abies commutata var. glauca (Chargueraud)
• Picea pungens var. glauca (Regel)
• Picea pungens f. compacta (Rehder)
• Pinus armata (Voss)
• Picea pungens glauca-pendens (Sudw.)
• Picea parryana glauca-pendens ((Sudw.) Sudw.)
• Picea pungens argentea-pendula (Beissn.)
• Picea parryana glauca-pendula ((H.Kost. ex Beissn.) André)
• Picea pungens f. kosteriana ((A.Henry) O.L.Lipa)
• Picea pungens var. pendula ((Mouill.) Zederb.)
• Picea pungens f. pendens (Rehder)

Distribution

• Arizona (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Montana (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• Utah (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Austria (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Iceland (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Jan 18, 2021 by Mateo Montejo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2021 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 12, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 5, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jan 5, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Diana López Jiménez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2021 by Diana López Jiménez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 30, 2017 by Iris RC (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Dec 29, 2020 by Sothis (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 23, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 12, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 8, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 8, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 7, 2021 by Jodiu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 8, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 8, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 12, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 17, 2021 by nat evans (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 29, 2021 by ECO_ECO_CC (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 23, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 20, 2022 by Dominik Muczyński (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2019 by Mathew March (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 19, 2022 by Riccardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 28, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 1, 2020 by Fatma Alakış (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5284871)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30095300-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Picea pungens Engelm.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Tree

Growth rate: Slow

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.8

Ph minimum: 5.5