Picea pungens Thuem - Blue Spruce

Picea pungens 'Thuem', sometimes called Picea pungens 'Glauca compacta', is a dwarf form of the Blue Spruce that is particularly ornamental. It develops into a rounded, wide, and irregular cone shape, and over time forms a fluffy mass with powdery blue foliage all year round. Its thick needles are densely arranged around its short and rigid, horizontal branches. Its initial slow growth accelerates slightly over the years. It is well-suited for planting in large rock gardens, as well as in flowerbeds or in pots on the terrace. It thrives in sunny locations, in well-drained, moist, and slightly acidic soil.

Native to the western coast of the United States and the Rocky Mountains of North America, up to Canada, the 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, presenting an elegant and regular conical habit with horizontally layered branches. This tree can reach a height of 25 to 40 metres (82 to 131 feet 2 inches) and tolerates limestone soils and some drought.

The 'Glauca compacta' variety, derived from this species, is a proven selection from 1979. It is a beautiful and charming conifer, with a slightly irregular and initially rounded habit, which then grows to form a pyramid of layered branches, somewhat compacted, or a rounded cone sometimes crowned by a short spike. Its growth is slow, and over the years, it will reach a height of about 2.5 metres (8 feet 2 inches) and a base width of 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches). It produces short and thick, layered branches, covered with 3 cm (1.2 in) long, sharp needles arranged in dense brushes radially around the branches. Its spring shoots are a light icy blue with a silver hue, and the foliage maintains a beautiful powdery blue colour all year round. Its scaly bark is grey-purple and quite decorative.

The Blue Spruce 'Thuem', with its exceptional foliage, reduced size, low maintenance, and ease of cultivation, is a perfect plant for rock gardens, terraces, or planting in the background of flowerbeds in small gardens. It thrives in cool climates, as long as the soil is well-drained and the exposure is sunny. This plant pairs well with stone walls, geometric lines of swimming pools, and brickwork. It can be placed against a group of conifers with dark green foliage and combined with spring or summer annuals that will enhance its foliage. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally stand out in the creation of a contemporary garden that emphasizes the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes, and textures over flowers. These plants provide lasting structure to a flowerbed, mark pathways, and highlight the terrace, replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They also pair well with heathers, wormwoods, or shrubby salvias, as well as ground cover plants such as aubrietas and cerastiums or complementary grasses. The key is to play with volumes and colours.