Blue Spruce

Picea pungens

Taxonomy

Division:: Coniferophyta | - Conifers
Family:: Pinaceae
Genus:: Picea
Species:: Picea pungens

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Tree
Height:: More than 40 ft
Light Requirements:: Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: apr, may
Bloom Colors:: Yellow

Native Range

United States: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Wyoming, Canada: Nova Scotia, Ontario

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

common idia (Idia aemula), Cydia youngana, Dasychira grisefacta, Douglas-fir tussock moth (Orgyia pseudotsugata), Endothenia albolineana, Eupithecia columbrata, Eupithecia mutata, European spruce needleminer (Epinotia nanana), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia citrana), Rusty Tussock Moth (Orgyia antiqua), spruce needleminer (Coleotechnites piceaella), zebra caterpillar moth (Melanchra picta)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: Prefers cool, moist environments in native range

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are imbibed in water for 2 days, then artificially stratified in a refrigerator for 45 days. Alternatively, seeds can be moistened and placed in self-sealing plastic baggies and stratified for 7 - 10 days at temperatures ranging from 2 to 4°C.

Establishment: Seeds are wild collected during fall months and are kept separated according to site, elevation and source. Entire cones can also be harvested by hand from trees when they turn purple to brown, typically in late September through early October. There are slight variations in pre-treatment and sowing depth between protocols.

Source: npn.rngr.net