Blue spruce, Colorado spruce, Silver spruce
Picea pungens
Family: Pinaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows 15-30 m high and spreads 3.7-5.5 m wide. The trunk is 90 cm across. It is cone shaped. The leaves are blue-green. The needles are single and stiff. They are 15-30 mm long with a very sharp point. They spread out all around the twigs. They tend to sweep upwards and curve forward. The twigs are stout. The seed cones are cylindrical and taper to the tip. They are 5-12 cm long. The scales are shiny and light brown. They are thin and flexible and loose fitting.
There are between 30 and 40 species of Picea.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. They are drought tolerant. They can grow on a variety of soils. It grows high in the Rocky Mountains in North America. It can tolerate drier soils than other spruces. It can also grow in damp ground. It suits hardiness zones 2-10. Arboretum Tasmania. Hobart Botanical Gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, North America, Slovenia, Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
The needle tips are used to make jelly that is served with lamb or venison. It is also eaten with breakfast muffins.
Edible parts
Flowers, inner bark, seeds, tea
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Selected varieties have been grown by grafting.
Trees can live for 600 years.
Its other names
Local names
Srebrna bodeča smreka