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Picea, Genus, pungens, Species, 'Hoopsii', Cultivar,
- Genus & species
- Cultivar
Hoopsii blue spruce
Rocky Mountains, western United States (species)
Overview
Picea pungens 'Hoopsii' is a cultivar of Colorado blue spruce, an evergreen conifer in the pine family (Pinaceae) with a dense, broadly conical crown. Trees reach 30–50 feet (9–15 m) tall and 10–20 feet (3–6 m) wide at maturity, with a growth rate of 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) per year. Needles are stiff, four-sided, 0.75–1.25 inches (2–3 cm) long, and sharply pointed, with a thick waxy coating that gives a silvery-blue color; the waxy coating persists through the year and is thicker on new growth. Branches are held in horizontal whorls, and the lower branches reach the ground in open sites. Cones are cylindrical, 3–4 inches (7.5–10 cm) long, light brown, and mature in one season, falling in the second year. Bark is gray-brown and scaly, becoming furrowed with age. Plants are hardy in USDA zones 2–7. Trees decline in hot, humid summers where Rhizosphaera needle cast and cytospora canker thin the lower branches, and needle color is less blue in shade.
Native Range
Picea pungens is native to the central and southern Rocky Mountains of the western United States, from Wyoming and Idaho south to Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. It grows along streams and in moist mountain valleys at 6,000–10,000 feet (1,800–3,000 m). 'Hoopsii' is a nursery selection.Suggested Uses
Used as a specimen, in windbreaks, and in screen plantings, spaced 15–20 feet (4.5–6 m) apart. Tolerates cold to −40 °F (−40 °C) and wind exposure. Grown as a live Christmas tree in some regions.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height30' - 50'
Width/Spread10' - 20'
Bloom Information
Male cones shed pollen in May, and female cones, red-purple at pollination, become light brown at maturity in September. Trees produce cones from 10–15 years of age. Cones fall in the second year after maturity.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Red-purple (female cones)Foliage Description
Silvery blueGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Trees grow in full sun in moist, well-drained loam, sand, or clay with a pH of 5.5–7.5. Hardiness covers USDA zones 2–7. Water is applied at 1 inch (25 mm) per week for the first three years, and established trees tolerate drought, cold, and wind. Spacing of 15–20 feet (4.5–6 m) allows airflow that limits needle cast. Trees decline in hot, humid summers, and Rhizosphaera needle cast and cytospora canker thin the lower branches. Spruce spider mites and spruce budworm feed on needles in dry summers.Pruning
Little pruning is needed. Dead branches and branch tips are removed in late winter, and the central leader is left intact. Cuts into branches without green needles do not regenerate new growth.Pruning Schedule
Prune: February–March
winterearly spring
