Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
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Tried and True Recommended by 11 Professionals
Common Name: Colorado spruce
Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Pinaceae
Zone: 3 to 7
Garden Location: Lang Family Bird Garden
Height: 10 to 15 feet
Spread: 7 to 10 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Leaves: Colorful, Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerates: Drought, Air Pollution, Deer, Rabbits

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers rich, moist soils.

Noteworthy Characteristics

This Colorado spruce cultivar is noted for its (a) dense, broad, upright pyramidal shape (a perfect cone), (b) closely-spaced, ascending branches and (c) steel blue needle color. Grows slowly (12"+ per year) to 10-15' tall (typically 10' by 7' in 10 years). Oblong cones (2-4" long) are greenish when young, maturing to light brown. This cultivar (introduced in the late 1970s by Iseli Nursery) was named after comedian Bill Cosby's fictional character of the same name.

Plant of Merit

Named after a popular comedian’s fictional character of the same name, this compact evergreen spruce cultivar is most noted for its exceptional form (a perfect cone) and uniform silver blue needle color. It will typically grow to 10–15 feet tall over 10 years in a dense, upright pyramid with closely spaced ascending branches from the ground up. Excellent as a landscape specimen or in groups.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to aphids (particularly spruce gall aphid), budworms and spider mites.

Garden Uses

Excellent specimen. Also effective in groups. Foundation plantings. Borders.

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