Conifers
Baby Blue spruce
Picea pungens 'Baby Blue'
Baby Blue spruce brings blue-green to silvery needles and a pyramidal evergreen outline to a spacious planting. The name does not guarantee a tiny tree: plants sold as Baby Blue can vary and should not automatically be equated with Baby Blueeyes. Confirm the particular tree's expected size before planting; the broader species can reach 30 to 60 feet. Choose full sun, moving air, and moist, well-drained soil. In Southwest Washington, watch needle health through damp weather and avoid summer drought stress. Water during establishment without repeatedly soaking the foliage, and leave neighboring plants clear of the lower branches.
Ask about this plantAt a glance
- Mature height
- Variable; confirm selection before siting
- Mature spread
- Variable; allow generous conifer space
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Generally USDA Zones 3–7
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
Use Baby Blue as a blue-toned specimen or part of an evergreen screen. Choose the position after confirming the likely size of the particular plant, since trees sold under this name vary.
Where to plant
Provide full sun and space around the canopy for air movement. Confirm expected height and width before planting, and avoid treating the Baby Blue name as a guarantee of dwarf growth.
Through the seasons
Blue to blue-green needles remain throughout the year. Older plants may develop cones.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Airflow, drainage, and summer moisture are important for blue spruce in maritime gardens. Avoid crowding or repeatedly wetting the needles, which can contribute to needle disease and declining foliage.
Soil, drainage & water
Use moist, well-drained soil and mulch the root area. Water during establishment and dry spells, directing irrigation toward the soil so the needles do not remain unnecessarily wet.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Limit cuts to damaged branches and minor clearance needs, leaving the overall shape intact. Keep space around the lower canopy and check for recurring needle loss during routine care.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Needle cast
Older needles may yellow, turn purplish brown, develop tiny black bodies, and drop.
Help your plant thrive
Remove fallen needles and prevent neighboring plants from crowding the tree. Avoid overhead irrigation and have repeated needle loss assessed.
Spruce aphids
Cool-season feeding can cause yellowish blotches, browning, and needle drop.
Help your plant thrive
Inspect needles in winter and early spring. Hose off aphids on small trees where practical, and conserve their natural predators.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
A sculptural evergreen with hanging branches that can become an upright specimen or a low spreading feature, depending on its form and early training.
Explore this plant
Cupressina Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina'
Dense, ascending branches create a slender evergreen column, offering substantial height and winter structure where a full-width spruce would demand too much horizontal space.
Explore this plant
2016.04.12 18.49.07 DSC03409 - Flickr - andrey zharkikh.jpg
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA
CC BY 2.0 · Web-optimized
Weeping White Spruce
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
A narrow evergreen with an upright leader and dramatically hanging blue-green branches, suited to a cool, open planting space where its tall silhouette can develop.
Explore this plantGood gardens start with a conversation
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for your place.
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