• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Alternatives for the Colorado Blue Spruce

The blue green foliage and classic pyramidal shape have made Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens hardy in zones 3 to 7, 8 to 9 on the west coast) a favorite of gardeners. But its large mature size and cultural requirements have resulted in plants that have outgrown their location or succumb to diseases.

Consider a concolor fir, like Blue Cloak (Abies concolor ‘Blue Cloak’ hardy in zones 4 to 7), if you like the look of blue spruce but want to avoid its disease problems. 

Select a pine when looking for an evergreen more tolerant of adverse soil, weather exposure and urban conditions than the spruce and fir. 

Add texture and color with Tiny Kurls eastern white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Tiny Kurls’, hardy in zones 3 to 8). Its dwarf mounded habit and twisted blue green needles add to its appeal.

Use junipers for those hot dry locations.  Medora (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Medora’hardy in Zones 3 to 7) requires no pruning to maintain its narrow habit and Star Power’s (Juniperus chinensis ‘JN Select Blue’, hardy in zones 3 to 6) dense prickly nature makes a good deer resistant screen.

A bit more information: The pine featured in this segment was a Pacific Blue Macedonia Pine (Pinus peuce ‘Pacific Blue’).  This blue-needled pine holds its needles for multiple years, giving the plants a full appearance. Hardy in zones 4 to 8, it tolerates cold and wind.

Upcoming Live Events
& Webinars


Feb. 14-16, 2025
NARI Milwaukee Spring Home Improvement Show
West Allis, WI

Feb. 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Strategies for Managing Invasive Plants

Register here

Feb. 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Create a Beautiful Shade Garden

Register here

Feb. 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
How to Select Rain Garden Plants

Register here

March 12, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Grow Pollinator-friendly Spring and Summer Flowering Bulbs

Register here

March 19, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Be a Waterwise Gardener
Register here


March 22, 23, 29, 30, 2025
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, WI

March 26, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Succession Planting & Crop Rotation

Register here

March 27, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Rain Garden Q & A

Register here

April 2, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Container Gardens for Sun & Shade
Register here


April 10, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Reinvigorate Your Rain Garden
Register here


May 7, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Vertical Gardening
Register here


May 15, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
7 Steps to Managing Water on Your Property

Register here

June 4, 2025
FREE WEBINAR:
Attracting Hummingbirds

Register here

WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win 3 Collections of Longfield Gardens
Dahlia Bulbs

ENTER NOW