Only mature blue spruce trees produce the cones. These cones drop their seeds in spring. Blue spruce seeds require a considerable period of light to germinate: 14 to 16 hours per day.
Can you grow blue spruce from a pine cone?
Many people choose to grow blue spruce from a pine cone because it is a beautiful tree. Blue spruce has soft, feathery needles that are light blue in color and turn green in the summer months. They also have cones that hang on the branches of the trees and add to their beauty. One reason to choose this type of conifer is that it grows quickly.
What is a blue spruce tree?
The blue spruce ( Picea pungens ), also commonly known as green spruce, white spruce, Colorado spruce, or Colorado blue spruce, is a species of spruce tree. It is native to North America, and is found in USDA growing zones 1 through 7.
Where do spruce trees get their cones?
Spruce seed cones typically occur on the upper third of the tree, while pollen buds, which are fairly inconspicuous, occur on the lower third to reduce self-pollination (Photo 3). Some trees may produce enough cones to become somewhat unsightly and reduce this year’s shoot and needle growth.
Why are my blue spruces not producing cones?
Yes menno, that along with conditions could very well be a culprit. Thanks pinetree30, menno and conifers for replying to my question. The explanation makes sense since those trees are barely 5 feet tall and our blue spruces are at least 12 feet tall with no cones in sight.
Do spruce trees have cones?
Many conifers, including spruces, firs and Douglas-fir, produce cones in a two-year cycle. Cone buds are produced in the first year and then cones develop and mature in the second year.
How often do blue spruce have pine cones?
Every two to three yearsEvery two to three years full crops of cones are yielded. Male cones are reddish purple and ripen to yellowish-brown. They are found spread all over the tree. Female cones are seed-bearing cones called strobilus, which are pale green and 6-11 cm in length.
Do baby blue spruce have pine cones?
While the Baby Blue spruce does not flower, it produces cones in the late summer and early fall. The cones of mature trees are often gray-brown in color.
How often do spruce trees produce cones?
Results from this study indicate that spruce cone production occurs on approximately 3–4 year cycles, with climate conditions of the preceding years being the deciding factors in both seedfall and seed viability (Roland et al. 2014).
What do blue spruce cones look like?
Cones are inconspicuous and not showy; they may be green, orange, and purple. The species is monoecious, and the male cones are reddish and mature to become brown, whereas female cones are purple.
Do pine cones mean a tree is stressed?
But more pine cones can also mean the trees are producing more reproductive seeds as a way to deal with the stress of a dry or changing climate. It's a matter of survival: The tougher, drier the season, the stronger the urge for the trees to reproduce through seeds so the species can survive.
What's the difference between a pine tree and a spruce tree?
Spruce is a widespread coniferous tree, which has a distinctive conical shape and hanging cones while pine is an evergreen coniferous tree which has clusters of long needle-shaped leaves. Thus, this describes the distinguishable difference between spruce and pine.
What is the difference between Colorado blue spruce and baby blue spruce?
Description. Baby Blue is a more slender version of the Colorado Blue Spruce. It is grown from seed, not grafted like Baby Blue Eyes, thus, specimens will vary slightly in habit. This tree will, however, be consistent in its vibrant blue color.
How do you tell the difference between a spruce and a pine?
The needles easily roll between your finger tips. Spruce needles are spiny and sharp (think "SSS"). Cones hang down from the branches. Fir tree needles also grow individually on the branch but the needles are soft and flat and don't roll between your fingertips.
Are there male and female blue spruce trees?
The smaller one is the male and the larger one on the right is the female. At maturity, the cones become light brown. The female cone can get up to 5 inches in length and 1 inch in width.
What can I do with spruce cones?
Spruce cones are used to make a tea that relieves colds and helps maintain good health. Of all the parts of the spruce tree, some Elders believe the cones make the best medicine (Andre 1995). Cones are picked year round from the tops of young trees.
Can you grow a blue spruce from a pine cone?
With patience, Colorado blue spruce can be grown from seed after collecting and drying pinecones to obtain the seeds. Come spring, soak the seeds in water for 24 hours and then wrap them in a moist paper towel and store them in the refrigerator for six weeks.
Are there male and female blue spruce trees?
The smaller one is the male and the larger one on the right is the female. At maturity, the cones become light brown. The female cone can get up to 5 inches in length and 1 inch in width.
Can you grow a blue spruce from a pine cone?
With patience, Colorado blue spruce can be grown from seed after collecting and drying pinecones to obtain the seeds. Come spring, soak the seeds in water for 24 hours and then wrap them in a moist paper towel and store them in the refrigerator for six weeks.
How can you tell the difference between spruce and pine lumber?
In appearance, pine is amber to reddish brown, alternating with yellow and white, with occasional bold grain, or streaks of brown. Spruce is cream to white in color, with fine, consistently straight grain lines. Spruce may contain small knots, but pine may display large knots, and is less consistent than spruce.
Which trees have pine cones?
All conifer species produce cones, in fact, the name "conifer" means cone-bearing plants. Conifers such as spruce (Picea), fir (Abies), and hemlock (Tsuga) produce cones just like pines. There are even some deciduous trees (lose their leaves in fall) that are conifers because they too produce cones.
What is a Colorado blue spruce?
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is a beautiful native American conifer. This extremely rustic silvery blue tree reaches the height of 9 – 21 m (30-70 ft) in its region of origin. Nice bluish green color, accentuated by the sharply pointed foliage makes it a perfect conifer for open landscapes and large backyards. Dwarf forms of blue spruce are also available that reaches only between 1.5 to 4.5 m (5-15 ft) tall and are suitable for small gardens, patios, and terraces.
What causes needle cast on blue spruce?
Use a magnifying glass to examine the needles of your blue spruce for signs of Rhizosphaera needle cast (Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii), a fungus that causes needle cast disease . It pushes through the stomata of the affected needles and looks like fuzzy black spots.
How long does it take for a blue spruce tree to germinate?
These cones drop their seeds in spring. Blue spruce seeds require a considerable period of light to germinate: 14 to 16 hours per day. If the length of light falls below 12 hours a day, they become dormant.
How to keep conifers from weeding?
Planting area around this magnificent conifer should be kept clean and weed free, especially when the plant is not well established. A good thick cedar mulch or of other organic matter is sufficient to prevent annual weeds.
What is the habit of pyramidal conifers?
This pyramidal conifer has a habit of growing slowly. Its persistent and fragrant needle-like bluish green foliage are densely distributed around the reddish gray twigs. These needles are stiff and sharp.
Where does the blue spruce tree grow?
The blue spruce ( Picea pungens ), also commonly known as green spruce, white spruce, Colorado spruce, or Colorado blue spruce, is a species of spruce tree. It is native to North America, and is found in USDA growing zones 1 through 7. Its natural range extends from northern New Mexico through Colorado and Utah to Wyoming and into Alberta ...
What is the average temperature of blue spruce in Colorado?
Blue spruce is most common in Colorado and the Southwest. The annual average temperature ranges from 3.9 to 6.1 degrees C (39 to 43 degrees F). And ranges from - 3.9 to - 2.8 degrees C (25 to 27 degrees F) in January. In July, the average temperature ranges from 13.9 to 15.0 degrees C (57 to 59 degrees F).
How tall is Picea Pungens?
Description. In the wild, Picea pungens grows to about 23 m (75 ft), but when planted in parks and gardens it seldom exceeds 15 m (49 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) wide. It is a columnar or conical evergreen conifer with densely growing horizontal branches. It has scaly grey bark on the trunk with yellowish-brown branches.
Why are my blue spruce needles turning yellow?
The blue spruce is susceptible to several needle casting diseases which cause the needles to turn yellow, mottled or brown before they fall off. Various rust diseases also affect the tree causing yellowing of the needles as well as needle fall.
What insect is under the bark of a tree?
Another insect pest is the spruce beetle ( Dendroctonus rufipennis) which bores under the bark. It often first attacks trees which have blown over by the wind and when the larvae mature two years afterwards, a major outbreak occurs and vast numbers of beetles attack nearby standing trees.
How deep do blue spruce roots grow?
Blue spruce seedlings are shallow roots that penetrate only 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) of soil during the first year. Although freezing can't damage much in blue spruce, frost will cause seedling loss. Shadows in late spring and early autumn minimize this frost heaving loss.
What causes galls on blue spruce?
Pests and diseases. The blue spruce is attacked by two species of Adelges, an aphid-like insect that causes galls to form. Nymphs of the pineapple gall adelgid form galls at the base of twigs which resemble miniature pineapples and those of the Cooley's spruce gall adelgid cause cone-shaped galls at the tips of branches.
What is the color of blue spruce?
They are light brown in color and are often clustered near the top of the tree. Attracts birds, pollinators, or wildlife: Browsers, small mammals, songbirds are attracted to this tree. Plant care: Blue Spruce grows best in full sun and requires good soil drainage and proper watering during dry weather.
What is a blue spruce tree?
Care Knowledge. Blue spruce, also known as Colorado spruce, is a conical-shaped evergreen tree with stiff horizontal branches and short stiff needles. It is a commonly used tree in Midwest landscapes. In nature the needles are often green, but many specimens produce blue-green needles.
How big does a Globe Blue Spruce tree get?
Globe blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’): This tree grows only three to five feet high and three to six feet wide producing a neat, dense, compact, rounded shape. This cultivar is a good accent plant for foundations and borders. It seldom produces cones.
How big does a sage bush get?
This cultivar with thick silver-blue needles grows 40 feet high and 20 feet wide.
How big does a blue sage tree get?
A more compact cultivar with deeper blue needles that grows 12 to 20 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide.
How big are male and female cones?
Both male and female cones are found on the same tree. Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions: The medium-sized cylindrical cones are two to four inches long and one and half inches wide.
Where do Picea pungens grow?
This tree is also known as Picea pungens ‘Glauca’. It is native to the southwestern United States from Colorado Rockies, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah. The bark is gray and broken into large scales. Male pollen and female cones that become woody when pollinated. Both male and female cones are found on the same tree.
Where do spruce cones grow?
Spruce seed cones typically occur on the upper third of the tree , while pollen buds, which are fairly inconspicuous, occur on the lower third to reduce self-pollination (Photo 3). Some trees may produce enough cones to become somewhat unsightly and reduce this year’s shoot and needle growth.
How long do conifers produce cones?
Many conifers, including spruces, firs and Douglas-fir, produce cones in a two-year cycle. Cone buds are produced in the first year and then cones develop and mature in the second year. Accordingly, cones we are seeing on spruces in September 2013 are the result of buds that were formed during the summer of 2012 when many trees were stressed due ...
What caused the 2012 cone crop?
Heat and drought from 2012 contribute to this year’s copious crop of cones.
Do white spruce trees have cones?
White spruce trees, in particular, are producing large amounts of cones this year, although Serbian spruce and Norway spruce trees also appear to have higher than normal amounts of cones. In addition to the influence of tree stress on coning, many conifers also exhibit a pattern of biennial bearing that may also contribute to this year’s ...
Where do blue spruce trees grow?
How to Grow Blue Spruce Successfully. To recap, blue spruce are only native to the mountain west, they generally occur at higher elevations, they prefer a cool climate with wet summers and are extremely susceptible to fungal diseases in cultivation outside of their native range.
Why are blue spruce trees so popular?
It is also likely responsible for most dislike of conifers! Why? Because species Colorado spruce trees were heavily planted in new residential communities in the early to mid-20th Century, and most, if not all, were planted with no regard for their ultimate size or whether they were climate-appropriate. While it may be an urban legend, it is said that a blue spruce in the 1930s and 1940s was a status symbol, widely proclaiming that the homeowner had 'arrived'! Even a 'slow growing' tree can outgrow its garden location!
What causes blue spruce to die?
By far the most common complaint of cultivated blue spruces is needle cast disease, mostly that caused by the fungus Rhizospaera kalkhoffii. It infects young needles and overwinters on living or recently killed foliage. During the growing season, the spores spread to other branches, or other trees, by splashing water. Warm temperatures (high 70's) exacerbate the needle infection. The disease generally presents as it does in the above photo, with the older needles dropping off first. There are other pathogens that can cause needles to die and drop off, but Rhizospaera is the most common, followed by Stigmina/Mycosphaerella.
How long does a Picea pungens tree live?
It is a relatively slow-growing tree, as wild trees go, but it is long-lived (many reach 600-800 years). Picea pungens does best in cool climates with regular, short bursts of summer rainfall, conditions that are difficult to duplicate outside its native, mountainous, range.
What is the name of the plant that has a clear, powder blue needle?
In the background, Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' draws the eye and provides soft, elegant contrast to the green foliage around it. In front, the cultivar 'Lucretia', has clear, powder-blue needles and a more random growth habit.
How tall is a blue spruce tree?
The trees in nature can reach impressive heights; it is not uncommon to find individuals that are over 100' tall, with trunks 5' or so in diameter.
Why are spruces blue?
The blue coloring is due to a waxy substance on the leaf surface that protects the tree from desiccation and harmful UV light.The more wax, the bluer the needles.
How long do blue spruce trees live?
Blue spruce trees can live longer than 150 years if you can keep them free of common pests, such as bagworms.
What is the color of the bagworms on a spruce tree?
Bagworms on Blue Spruce. The Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens "Glauca") makes a handsome screen or specimen tree with its blue-gray, needle-like foliage, large brown cones and furrowed, gray bark. Native to the American Southwest, this tree grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, ...
How to get rid of bagworms on Colorado blue spruce?
Controlling Bagworms. Examine your Colorado blue spruce and handpick or prune out all of the bags that you find. Inspect your tree regularly from fall through early spring so you can remove the cocoons before the eggs hatch. Crush the bags or put them in sealed trash bags so the pests don't hatch and return to the tree.
Overview
Description
In the wild, Picea pungens grows to about 23 m (75 ft), but when planted in parks and gardens it seldom exceeds 15 m (49 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) wide. The tree can grow larger if the tip is cut when it is at least 3 years old. It is a columnar or conical evergreen conifer with densely growing horizontal branches. It has scaly grey bark on the trunk with yellowish-brown branches.
Waxy gray-green leaves, up to 3 cm (1 in) long, are arranged radially on the shoots which curve …
Cultivation
Picea pungens and its many cultivars are often grown as ornamental trees in gardens and parks. It is also grown for the Christmas tree industry.
The blue spruce is attacked by two species of Adelges, an aphid-like insect that causes galls to form. Nymphs of the pineapple gall adelgid form galls at the base of twigs which resemble miniature pineapples and those of the Cooley's spruc…
Rooting habits
Blue spruce seedlings are shallow roots that penetrate only 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) of soil during the first year. Although freezing can't damage much in blue spruce, frost will cause seedling loss. Shadows in late spring and early autumn minimize this frost heaving loss. Despite the shallow roots, blue spruce is able to resist strong winds. Five years before transplanting, the total root surface area of 2-meter-high trees was doubled by pruning the roots of blue spruce. It also incre…
Cultivars
Common cultivars (those marked agm have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit):
• 'Glauca Globosa' agm – shrub from 3–5 feet (0.91–1.52 m) in height
• 'Fat Albert' – compact perfect cone to 10 feet (3.0 m) of a silver blue color
Uses
The Navajo and Keres Native Americans use this tree as a traditional medicinal plant and a ceremonial item, and twigs are given as gifts to bring good fortune. In traditional medicine, an infusion of the needles is used to treat colds and settle the stomach. This liquid is also used externally for rheumatic pains. Early people used their wood for building.
Distributed soil types and topography
Blue spruce generally exists on gentle uplands and sub irrigated slopes, in well-watered tributary drainage, extending down intermittent streams, and on lower northerly slopes.
Blue spruce always grow naturally in the soils which are in the order Mollisols, and the soil will also be in the orders histosols and inceptisols in a lesser extent.
Blue spruce is considered as a pioneer tree species in moist soil in Utah.
Climate
Blue spruce usually grows in cool and humid climatic zones where the annual precipitation mainly occurs in the summer.
Blue spruce is most common in Colorado and the Southwest. The annual average temperature ranges from 3.9 to 6.1 degrees C (39 to 43 degrees F). And ranges from - 3.9 to - 2.8 degrees C (25 to 27 degrees F) in January. In July, the average temperature ranges from 13.9 to 15.0 degr…