Blue Spruce, Colorado Spruce

Picea pungens

Physical Characteristics

Picea pungens is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. It cannot tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Distribution

South-western N. America - Rocky Mountains.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Inner bark Seed Shoots Edible Uses: Tea Young male catkins - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring[172]. Immature female cones - cooked. The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and syrupy[172]. The cones are about 7cm long[82]. Inner bark - dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread[172]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails. Seed - raw[172]. The seed is about 2 - 4mm long[229]. It is rich in fats and has a pleasant slightly resinous flavour but is too small and fiddly to be worthwhile unless you are desperate[172, K]. A refreshing tea, rich in vitamin C, can be made from the young shoot tips[172].

Medicinal Uses

Vitamin C None known

Known Hazards

None known