Blue Spruce

Picea pungens

The blue spruce is a species of spruce tree that is native to North America. Its natural range extends from northern New Mexico through Colorado and Utah to Wyoming and into Alberta and British Columbia, but it has been widely introduced elsewhere and is used as an ornamental tree in many places far beyond its native range. The blue spruce has blue-green coloured needles and is a coniferous tree.
Blue Spruce - Picea pungens Habitat: Rural yard Blue Spruce,Geotagged,Picea pungens,United States,Winter,picea,snow,spruce

Appearance

In the wild, ''Picea pungens'' grows to about 23 m, but when planted in parks and gardens it seldom exceeds 15 m tall by 5 m wide. It is a columnar or conical evergreen conifer with densely growing horizontal branches. It has scaly grey bark on the trunk with yellowish-brown branches.

Waxy gray-green leaves, up to 3 cm long, are arranged radially on the shoots which curve upwards. The pale brown cones are up to 10 cm long. Male cones are found on the entire tree, whereas the female cones are found at the top of the tree. This helps to facilitate cross-pollination.
Blue Spruce - Picea pungens Habitat: Meadow Blue spruce,Colorado Blue spruce,Geotagged,Picea,Picea pungens,Summer,United States,spruce

Naming

The specific epithet ''pungens'' means "sharply pointed", referring to the leaves.

Uses

The Navajo and Keres Native Americans use this tree as a traditional medicinal plant and a ceremonial item, and twigs are given as gifts to bring good fortune. In traditional medicine, an infusion of the needles is used to treat colds and settle the stomach. This liquid is also used externally for rheumatic pains. Early people used their wood for building.

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionPinophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyPinaceae
GenusPicea
SpeciesP. pungens
Photographed in
United States of America