Dwarf Blue Spruce

Ever popular, the Dwarf Blue Spruce is a plant no garden should be without. Its rounded, globe shape and bright silver-blue needles are iconic, and yet always fresh and appealing, especially as it matures. Forming a dense globe broader than wide, you can expect it to mature around 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide, but of course it never stops growing, so it will add a few inches every year of its life. The dense needles radiate out all around the stems, and they are a magnificent silver-blue, especially striking when the new growth of spring emerges, but still bright even in the depths of winter. An ideal specimen for a rock garden, on a slope, among other dwarf evergreens, or in any part of your garden at all. It also makes a great container plant, which can be left outdoors all winter in the pot from zone 5, and it could also be developed as a unique bonsai tree as well. Trimming is optional – some let it develop its own unique bushiness, whilst if you are a lover of perfect globes, trim away, preferably once the new spring growth has matured and hardened a little.

• A superb dense globe form, slightly wider than round if grown naturally
• Dense branching needs no trimming, but you can if you want perfection
• Needles are a brilliant silver-blue year round, but especially in spring
• Very tough and reliable once established, and very easy to grow
• Excellent in cold zones and not so suitable if you have hot, humid summers

Plant your Dwarf Blue Spruce in full sun. That will give you the strongest blue and the densest growth. It will grow well even in poor soil, as long as it is well-drained. Will tolerate clay, shallow soil, rocks and gravel. Water new plants regularly for the first years – it takes time for good drought tolerance to develop. Not eaten by deer, it generally has no pest or disease problems if grown with some attention when young. If you want to trim for the perfect globe shape, do it in spring, after the new growth has hardened. Never cut back where there are no needles, as new growth will never come from bare stems.