Growzone: 2 - 7
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Plant Options
| Bare Root Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Height | 25-99 | 100+ |
| 12" - 18" | Available Spring 2027 - Email to Join the Waitlist | Available Spring 2027 - Email to Join the Waitlist |
| 18" - 24" | Available Spring 2027 - Email to Join the Waitlist | Available Spring 2027 - Email to Join the Waitlist |
| Potted Prices | ||
| Height | 1-50 | 50+ |
| 18" - 24" | SOLD OUT (22.00) | SOLD OUT (21.00) |
| 2' - 3' | $31.50 | $29.50 |
| 3' - 4' | Low Stock - Email for Availability (42.00) | Low Stock - Email for Availability (42.00) |
Description
Description
The Colorado Spruce is a slow-growing (6-12 inches per year) evergreen with a needle color that varies between green, bluish, or bluish silver and is about 1 inch long. Needles can really “poke” when mowing around larger plants. It does not shed its needles but keeps them for 10 years or longer, with its branches extending to the ground. This tree is a native of the high plains, and low humidity areas from New Mexico to Wyoming.
It will grow up to 60 ft tall and 15 ft wide and is very wind-firm due to its large spreading root system and tough flexible wood. This tree can live a long life (100 years+) in its native area, outside of that it varies greatly and many times lives no longer than 25 years. In the wild around Durango, Colorado many spectacular species grow over 100 ft tall. Due to its shape, heavy snow and ice storms cause little damage. Deer will not normally eat this species unless nothing else is available.
It will grow well in hardiness zones from 2-7 and does well in poor-quality soil that other spruce species do not like. It is very drought resistant needing only 15″ or less of rain per year and can tolerate hot dry summers better than many other spruce species.
The Colorado Spruce has been extensively planted throughout the USA. It is hard to find a landscape without at least one plant in it. It has been used for windbreaks in the past because many nurseries only carried this evergreen. When planted by itself, out in the sun and wind, the disease problems are reduced but not eliminated. When this tree is taken out of its natural range of low humidity and rainfall and planted in a windbreak, problems occur.
With more moisture, and less sun and wind present, this species develops two serious disease problems: needle cast and canker which are fungal diseases. It usually starts at the bottom with dead branches and spreads up the tree, with white sap oozing out of the trunk. While needle cast and canker disease do not completely kill the tree, many times a 30-foot tree only has 3 feet at the top that is living. With no windbreak protection and being esthetically unappealing, most people cut them down.
We recommend spacing in a single row 16 feet between plants. If you are west of Iowa, we recommend spacing in double rows 16 feet between plants and 20 feet between rows or multiple rows 20 feet between plants and rows. A 2ft tall-potted tree can be 5 ft tall in 5 years provided it is planted in good soil with adequate moisture and weed and grass control around the base.