Other Names:  Picea densata

Brand:  Garden Debut

Description:

A more compact, spire-like cultivar, with rich blue needles; more densely branched and fuller than the species; very tough and adaptable, makes a wonderful vertical accent for smaller home landscapes, ideal as a windbreak

Ornamental Features

Skinny Blue Genes™ Black Hills Spruce is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive powder blue-variegated silvery blue foliage with hints of grayish green. The needles are highly ornamental and remain silvery blue throughout the winter. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Skinny Blue Genes™ Black Hills Spruce is a dense evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Skinny Blue Genes™ Black Hills Spruce is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Skinny Blue Genes™ Black Hills Spruce will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. It has a low canopy, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 90 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.