Spruce, (Coloardo Blue) Iseli Columnar Picea pungens 'Iseli Fastigiata' Height: 15 feet Spread: 4 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 2b Other Names: Blue Colorado Spruce;Colorado Blue Spruce Description: One of the more distinctive evergreens, featuring bright blue needles on a narrowly upright and columnar form, branches forking upwards at a sharp angle; best used as a vertical accent in smaller home landscapes, really draws the eye Ornamental Features Spruce, (Coloardo Blue) Iseli Columnar is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has attractive bluish-green evergreen foliage which emerges blue in spring. The needles are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. The rough gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape. Landscape Attributes Spruce, (Coloardo Blue) Iseli Columnar is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. 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, (Coloardo Blue) Iseli Columnar is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Spruce, (Coloardo Blue) Iseli Columnar will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath 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.
