Spruce, (Colorado Blue) Avatar Picea pungens 'Avatar' Height: 20 feet Spread: 15 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 2b Other Names: Blue Colorado Spruce;Colorado Blue Spruce Brand: Iseli Description: A medium-sized spire-shaped evergreen accent tree with tiered branches and exceptionally lush, true blue needles; very showy, colorful, and an ideal size for home landscape use; extremely hardy and rugged Ornamental Features Spruce, (Colorado Blue) Avatar is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive blue foliage with hints of silver which emerges powder blue in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain blue throughout the winter. The rough gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape. Landscape Attributes Spruce, (Colorado Blue) Avatar is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics. Spruce, (Colorado Blue) Avatar is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Spruce, (Colorado Blue) Avatar will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more. This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species. Special Attributes Cones are oval shaped 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 inches long, young cones are purple changing to brown as they mature. In some areas of the world spruce are considered drought tolerant, that depends on when does it rain. In the Pacific Northwest Desert evergreens need to be watered during the winter as well as the growing season. Our desert climate especially in late winter to early spring evergreens can suffer during next growing season. An easy way to remember check for dryness is on the holidays Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Valentines Day & Easter.
