Upright Colorado Spruce

Upright Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens 'Fastigiata')

Upright Colorado Spruce delivers the classic blue-spruce look in a narrow form that fits where most evergreens feel too wide. It adds year-round structure and winter presence, keeping beds and property lines looking finished when everything else is dormant. The blue to blue-silver needles bring clean contrast against brick, stone, and deep green shrubs. Once established in a well-drained site, it becomes a dependable vertical anchor with minimal shaping.

Distinctive Features

This fastigiate Colorado spruce grows with a tight, upright, columnar habit and ascending branches that hold close to the trunk for a clean silhouette. Needles are stiff and typically blue-green to blue-silver, with strongest color in full sun. Mature trees may develop tan to light brown cones, but the primary appeal is the bold foliage color and narrow architectural form. Size varies by site and age, with commonly supported landscape expectations around 15 to 25 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun is best for strongest blue color, with light part shade tolerated.
• Soil: Plant in well-drained soil, and it tolerates many soil types if drainage is reliable.
• Water: Water regularly during establishment, then water deeply during extended drought.
• USDA Zones: Generally hardy in zones 2 to 7.
• Habit: Narrow, upright, columnar evergreen with ascending branching.
• Mature Size: Commonly about 15 to 25 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide over time.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use the tall, narrow silhouette as a crisp evergreen statement near an entry, patio, or prominent bed corner.
• Screening: Plant in a staggered row to create a space-efficient privacy screen where width is limited.
• Foundation Planting: Place where you want height and structure without crowding windows, walks, or driveways.
• Windbreak: Use in groups along exposed edges to add evergreen shelter with a slimmer footprint.
• Vertical Accent: Pair with mounding shrubs and perennials to create strong form contrast and a more designed look.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deep water through the first growing season and during drought to prevent stress.
• Mulching: Apply mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch off the trunk.
• Pruning: Prune only to remove dead or damaged branches, and light shearing is optional if you want a tighter column.
• Fertilizing: Fertilize lightly in early spring only if needed, using a slow-release fertilizer for evergreens.
• Monitoring: Watch for spider mites during hot, dry weather and address early if needles begin to dull or stipple.
• Winter Care: Water well in fall and limit exposure to deicing salt spray to help reduce winter needle stress.

Why Choose Upright Colorado Spruce?

• Columnar Form: A narrow silhouette delivers height and structure in tight beds and small landscapes.
• Blue Needle Color: Blue to blue-silver foliage adds crisp contrast and four-season appeal.
• Space Efficiency: Provides screening and presence without the wide footprint of many conifers.
• Cold Hardiness: Strong winter performance supports reliable long-term landscape value.
• Drought Tolerance: Once established, it handles dry periods better than many broadleaf evergreens.

If you want a blue evergreen that stays slim and looks composed year-round, Upright Colorado Spruce is an excellent choice. Give it full sun, good drainage, and consistent moisture while it establishes, then let its natural form do the work. Over time it becomes a durable vertical backbone that elevates the entire planting in every season.