Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
Colorado spruce 'Fat Albert'
A slow-growing, conical evergreen tree to 3.5m high, with scaly, grey bark and dense, ascending branches bearing stiff, pointed, bluish needles. Cylindrical cones are green in summer, ripening to pale brown, and up to 12cm long
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Neutral, AcidColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Blue | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue | |||
| Autumn | Blue | |||
| Winter | Blue |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Picea are evergreen trees with rigid, needle-like leaves arranged singly all round the shoots, and narrow, leathery-scaled cones borne near the ends of the shoots
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in any deep, moist but well-drained, neutral to acidic soil in full sun. See conifer cultivation for more advice
Propagation
Propagate by grafting in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Architectural
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
No pruning required. New growth may be trimmed if necessary but it is best not to cut back into older wood
Pests
May be susceptible to adelgids, red spider mite and conifer aphid
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.