Globe Blue Spruce

While evergreens give structure to the landscape and add shades of green that look good all year, Globe Blue Spruce has a fantastic, powdery-blue hue that adds a dramatic pop of color to the landscape. This slow-growing and compact shrub is easy to grow and hardy in USDA growing zones 3-8. The rounded shape of the branches and the wider form make Picea pungens var. glauca the perfect specimen shrub for the front of a border or even in a container in a smaller garden. Globe Blue Spruce grows only 2-3 inches a year and can be used with other dwarf conifers in an alpine/rock garden or has a calming presence in a zen garden. Deer rarely browse conifers, and Globe Blue Spruce is no exception. Disease resistance is also high for this conifer. Ornamental grasses, ninebark, speedwell, and smoke tree make good companion plants for this evergreen gem. Globe Blue Spruce Care Plant Globe Blue Spruce in a full sun spot with well-draining soil on the acid side of the pH scale, 6.0 or less. Spruces have average water needs; 1 inch of water a week is sufficient to establish this shrub well. As Globe Blue Spruce matures, it will become more tolerant of drought. Fertilize in the early spring with an acid-loving shrub formula. A slow-release, dry fertilizer will last all growing season and provide consistent nutrition. Watering with drip irrigation or soaker hoses will keep the foliage dry and less prone to pests and disease. Little to no pruning is necessary for Globe Blue Spruce. The naturally compact and rounded shape grows slowly and steadily. Damaged and dead branches should be removed in late winter or early spring. Potted Globe Blue Spruce may need to be moved out of the path of prevailing winter winds and storms. Burlap or horticultural fleece can be wrapped around the pots to provide extra insulation for the root system over the winter. Globe Blue Spruce Spacing Globe Blue Spruce looks best when planted as a specimen among other types of plants. The mature height is 3-4 feet, and the spread can be up to 4-5 feet. Perennials and other shrubs should be placed 3 feet or more from the base.