Trees to 50m; trunk to 1.5m diam.; crown broadly conic. Bark gray-brown. Branches slightly to strongly drooping; twigs not pendent, stout, yellowbrown, usually glabrous. Buds dark orangebrown, 6–12mm, apex rounded to acute. Leaves 1.6–3cm, 4-angled in cross-section, rigid, blue-green, bearing stomates on all surfaces, apex spine-tipped. Seed-cones (5–) 6–11 (–12) cm; scales elliptic to diamond-shaped, widest below middle, 15–22 × 10–15mm, rather stiff, margin at apex erose, apex extending 8–10mm beyond seed-wing impression. 2n =24.

Habitat: Midmontane forests
Elevation: 1800–3000m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Colo., Idaho, N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

Limited hybridization occurs between Picea pungens and P. engelmannii (R.Daubenmire 1972; R.J. Taylor et al. 1975).

Blue spruce (Picea pungens) is the state tree of Colorado (as Colorado blue spruce) and Utah.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.