Fat Albert Colorado Spruce
Fat Albert Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert')
Fat Albert Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert') is a widely admired blue spruce cultivar known for its broad pyramidal shape, dense branching, and intense blue foliage. With a bold presence and predictable growth habit, this selection delivers classic evergreen structure with rich year-round color, making it a standout in both residential and commercial landscapes.
Distinctive Features
'Fat Albert' lives up to its name with a stocky, full-bodied form and stiff horizontal branches. Its needles are a striking silvery-blue, among the brightest of all Picea pungens cultivars. Unlike seed-grown blue spruces, it maintains a consistent shape and color without pruning, developing into a formal conical silhouette as it matures. It is especially valued for its symmetrical habit and vigorous but manageable growth rate.
Growing Conditions
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Well-drained loam or sandy soil
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
- Water Needs: Moderate; prefers consistent moisture during establishment
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 7
Ideal Uses
- Focal point in open lawns or garden beds
- Foundation planting for large homes or buildings
- Evergreen structure in mixed borders or winter gardens
- Screening or windbreak when planted in rows
- Accent plant in formal or naturalistic landscapes
Low Maintenance Care
- Requires no pruning to maintain shape
- Water deeply during dry periods, especially in early years
- Mulch around base to conserve moisture and insulate roots
- Fertilize lightly in early spring if desired
- Tolerant of cold, wind, and urban environments
Why Choose Fat Albert Colorado Spruce
- Bold, formal shape with no pruning required
- Bright silver-blue foliage provides strong color contrast
- Reliable structure for year-round visual impact
- Excellent cold-hardiness and low maintenance
- Ideal evergreen focal point for prominent landscape spaces
Fat Albert Colorado Spruce is a commanding focal point with consistent form and color, offering a reliable and visually striking presence in landscapes that call for structure, height, and lasting evergreen appeal.
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