Colorado Spruce

Colorado Spruce

Latin: Picea Pungens

Height: 80 ft

Spread: 20 feet; plant at 10-foot spacing for Shelterbelt purposes

Sun exposure: full sun to full shade

Hardiness Zone: 2a

Root system: variable (taproot and fibrous)

Growth rate: slow

Lifespan: 50+

Plug Material

The Colorado Spruce is our most popular evergreen, and it’s easy to see why. This tried-and-true, prairie-hardy tree stands up to our harsh climate year after year. Its dense branching slows the wind and gives you privacy all winter long, even after deciduous trees have dropped their leaves.

Its stiff needles range in colour from green to silvery blue, and its classic pyramid shape makes it a striking feature on any property. Over time, it can reach up to 80 feet tall with a 20-foot spread, so it fits nicely into long rows without crowding.

People love Colorado Spruce for its ornamental value, easy care and soil adaptability. As a result, you’ll see it lining large laneways, anchoring shelterbelts, and standing alone as a feature tree on acreages and large properties. It’s hardy to Zone 2a and can live 50 years or more. Its thick branches also give songbirds shelter through the coldest months.

For the best growth, plant it in full sun to partial shade. It’s a slow grower, but the wait pays off with a dense, long-lasting windbreak. For shelterbelt plantings, space trees 10 feet apart.

Seedling size is approximately 12″ tall, 1 year old.