Picea pungens Blaukissen - Blue Spruce

Still difficult to find in France, Picea pungens 'Blaukissen' is a miniature form of the Blue Spruce and an authentic and adorable dwarf conifer. It slowly forms a small, round cushion, with a woolly appearance. Its foliage is of an extraordinary silver-blue colour, composed of very small needles densely arranged around its short and rigid branches. Its very slow growth and reduced size make it suitable for planting in rockeries, as well as in flowerbeds, borders, or even pots on the terrace. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil, even occasionally dry, preferably neutral to slightly acidic.

Originally from the west coast of the United States, and the Rocky Mountains of North America, up to Canada, Picea pungens, also known as the Colorado Blue Spruce or Blue Spruce, is a hardy evergreen conifer belonging to the Pinaceae family. In its natural environment, it grows slowly, has an elegant and very regular conical habit, with horizontal and well-layered branches. This tree can reach a height of 25 to 40m (82 to 131ft), tolerates limestone soils and some drought.

The variety 'Blaukissen', derived from this species, is a recent German creation, still not widely spread, whose name means 'Blue Cushion'. It is an elegant small conifer, with a compact and initially globose habit, then flattened like a cushion. Its growth is very slow, around 3cm in height and 4cm in width each year. After 10 years, it will reach a height of 20cm (8in) and a spread of 30cm (12in), sometimes a little more in cool and humid climates. When fully grown, it will reach approximately 75cm (30in) in height and 90cm (35in) in width. It produces short and thick branches, very closely set, covered with very short and sharp needles, arranged in dense and radial brushes around the branches. Its young spring shoots are of a very bright silver-blue colour, and remain so throughout the year. This variety tolerates drought well.

The Blue Spruce 'Blaukissen', with its perfect habit, very compact growth, low maintenance, and ease of cultivation, is a perfect plant for rockeries, terraces, or border planting. It thrives in many situations, under various climates, as long as the soil is well-drained and not too chalky, and the exposure is sunny. This plant goes well with large stones, geometric lines, and masonry works. It can be associated with spring or summer annuals, which will enhance its foliage. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, structurally enhance flowerbeds, mark pathways, and border terraces, easily substituting for the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They go well with heathers or shrubby salvias, as well as ground cover plants such as aubrietas and Cerastiums, as well as flowering shrubs like Gauras. The key is to play with volumes and colours.