Known for its shimmery color and long, pointy needles, the Hoopsii spruce stands out as the “truest blue” of the spruce family. While spruce trees are native to the central and southern Rocky Mountains, the Hoopsii variety originated in Germany in the 1950s. The cultivar was then introduced to the nursery industry via the Netherlands—and […]

One look at its short, wide stature, and you can begin to visualize how the “Fat Albert” spruce got its name. This Colorado blue spruce has the same shape as the iconic cartoon character, its pyramidal form perhaps making for the perfect Christmas tree. Fat Albert spruce goes by the scientific name, Picea pungens, and […]

Its scientific name is Picea abies, but most people see it simply as the Christmas tree. Growing up to 60 feet tall at a rapid rate of approximately two feet per year, the Norway spruce makes for an impressive—and, in December, convenient—addition to a sprawling backyard landscape. This towering tree is native to Europe and […]

While many spruce trees are wide and full, the Serbian spruce is unique for its slender frame. Make no mistake, however, this spruce is still hardy enough to withstand New Jersey’s cold winters and hot summers. Growing as tall as 60 feet with a 20-25-foot spread, Serbian spruce is an ideal addition to a landscape […]

With the scientific name, Picea pungens ‘Globosa,’ the globe blue spruce is a low-lying, needled evergreen shrub that gets its name from its circular shape. The blue spruce species is native to the Rocky Mountains and also known as Colorado spruce. While blue spruce trees can grow over 150 feet tall in their natural environment […]

The Montgomery blue spruce is almost identical visually to the globe blue spruce, with ‘Montgomery’ replacing ‘Globosa’ at the end of the scientific name, Picea pungens. The blue spruce’s natural habitat is in the Rocky Mountains, where it can grow to towering heights exceeding 150 feet! These trees are kept under about 60 feet in […]