Colorado Blue Spruce

Description:

In the wild this tree grows to about 23 m (75 ft) but when planted in parks and gardens it seldom exceeds 15 m (49 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) wide. It is a columnar or conical evergreen conifer with densely growing, horizontal branches. It has scaly grey bark on the trunk and the branches are yellowish-brown. Waxy grey-green leaves, up to 3 cm (1 in) long, are arranged radially on the shoots, curving upwards. The pale brown cones are up to 10 cm (4 in) long

Habitat:

This species prefers deep, moist, well drained soils, but will grow well on other soils is sufficient moisture is available. It has been widely planted throughout the Northern Great Plains.