Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens): This conifer is more commonly known as blue spruce. It is primarily native to the central and southern Rocky Mountains. It tolerates cold easily to – 40 o F. It also tolerates heat well as referenced by its wide distribution for landscaping. It is adapted to limited moisture (18 inches) but grows best with abundant moisture. It is a long-lived tree (> 600 years) and it grows to more than 125 feet. The root system is shallow but despite this fact it is windfirm. It is moderately tolerant of shade. It is widely used as an ornamental and many cultivars have been developed to enhance the color variations available. We try hard to grow Colorado spruce from native seed stocks (U.S. Forest Service Silvics Manual).