Colorado Blue Spruce 
(Picea pungens glauca) 
EW Evergreens have had the popularity of 
the Blue Spruce. The seedling form known 
as the Colorado Blue Spruce is native to an 
extensive region in the Rocky Mountains extend- 
ing from New Mexico north, most extensively in 
Colorado. It is a magnificent tree in its native 
stands. Those of the most bluish color are found 
in deep gorges of high altitudes. When grown 
from seed, only a small portion of the trees de- 
velop the bright blue color. A great majority are 
of greenish cast with a slightly bluish tendency, 
Like many brighter colored trees, the bluish color 
is a bloom or sheen, a sort of powdery substance 
on the outside of the needles, such as on a plum or 
grape. The color is more pronounced during the 
late spring and summer months, and as the season 
wears on with rains and snows, most of the blue 
color disappears. For this reason, you cannot 
judge the color of the Blue Spruce except during 
the time it is in its new growth. 
A distinction is usually made in offering such 
trees. The green ones are called Colorado Green 
Spruce, while the blue trees are called Colorado 
Blue Spruce. 
Moerheim Spruce 
(Picea pungens moerheimi) 
WENTY or twenty-five years ago, a selected 
Blue Spruce was placed on the market by 
European nurserymen under the name of 
Moerheim Spruce. This is said to be an improve- 
ment over the Koster variety, but it has not thus 
far been available in sufficient quantities to in- 
terfere to any extent with the sale of the Koster 
Blue Spruce. 


“THE CoLtorapo BLUE Spruce is the handsomest tree on 
the Rocky Mountain Trail. A fluffy, silver-tipped, flowing 
robe it wears. It hears the call and scold of squirrel and the 
echoes in the canyon. At its feet, the water ouzel sings and 
the chipmunk plays. By it the columbine blooms. Near 
by, in autumn, the white-limbed aspens shake their golden 
leaves. On its frosty top sits the haughty, handsome wit, 
the crested jay. A playground are its arms for child-like, 
cheery chickadees. The Silver Spruce is an evergreen poem 
of the wild and gets into one’s heart like a hollyhock.” — 
Enos A. Mitts. 

Colorado Blue Spruce 














































Koster Blue Spruce 
Koster Blue Spruce 
(Picea pungens kosteriana) 
Glistening Silver Blue in Color 
NE of the most spectacular of all 
Evergreens because of its bril- 
liant, glistening, silvery blue color 
is the Koster Blue Spruce. Originally this 
was a selected seedling which proved to be 
of exceptional choice color. It was found 
in the Koster Nursery, one of the old 
horticultural establishments in Holland 
from where it was sent to America many 
years ago. It is necessary to grow these 
trees from grafts, a process which has 
been very difficult because of the small 
percentage of trees which usually survive 
19 
the grafting process. Furthermore, it re- 
quires long painstaking care through a 
series of transplanting, staking, root prun- 
ing, and careful trimming to develop 
choice shapely trees. This fact accounts 
for the extra cost of Koster Blue Spruce. 
Usually these trees sell for a higher price 
than any other tree of similar size. 
The Hill Nursery has been growers of 
the Koster Blue Spruce for a great many 
years, and while we produce these trees in 
large quantities, we are frequently sold 
out on many sizes. 
