Picea pungens Tokarz - Blue spruce

Picea pungens 'Tokarz' is a selection of the Blue Spruce, sometimes also called 'Compacta Pyramidalis'. Slow-growing, it forms a bushy shrub with a conical habit. When young, it has a shrubby and dense silhouette. The mature tree is pyramidal, very dense but irregular, with slightly pendulous lateral branches. The short needles are grey-blue with a waxy layer. It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil, not too dry in summer, preferably neutral to slightly acidic.

Native to the western coast of the United States and the Rocky Mountains of North America, up to Canada, Picea pungens, also known as Colorado Blue Spruce or Blue Spruce, is a very hardy evergreen conifer belonging to the pine family. In its natural environment, it grows slowly, presenting an elegant and very regular conical habit, supported by very tiered horizontal branches. This tree can reach a height of 25 to 40 m. While it tolerates slightly limestone soils and some drought, it prefers slightly acidic and deep moist soils. Its location should be carefully considered, as it does not like to be transplanted.
The 'Tokarz' variety ('Compacta Pyramidalis'), derived from this species, was named, described, and introduced into commerce in 1925 by Stefan Tokarz, who was then in charge of the Podzamcze nurseries in Poland. It is characterised by its moderate size and bright silvery-blue foliage. Ultimately, this conifer forms an irregular and dense pyramid 2 to 3.5 m high and 0.8 to 1 m in diameter. It produces regularly tiered, slightly trailing branches, covered with very short and sharp needles, arranged in dense brushes radially around the branches. Its young spring shoots are very light, then turn silvery-blue and remain so throughout the year. This variety does not bear cones.

The Blue Spruce 'Tokarz' ('Compacta Pyramidalis') has a soft and pleasant colour throughout the year. It thrives in many situations, in numerous climates, as long as the soil is well-drained and not too limestone and the exposure sunny. This conifer pairs well with rocks in the garden. It can be planted as a specimen or in small groups on a lawn. It can be combined with spring or summer annuals that will enhance its foliage. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally stand out in a contemporary setting. These plants with reassuring permanence can structurally define a flowerbed, mark pathways or highlight an entrance. They combine well with heathers or bushy salvias, or with ground cover plants like aubrietas or mouse-ear chickweeds, as well as with perennials like gauras. The key is to play with volumes and colours.