Fat Albert Blue Spruce

Botanical Name: Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’

Common Name: Fat Albert Blue Spruce

Mature Height and Width:
15–25' tall × 10–20' wide

Growth Habit: Broad pyramidal evergreen with strong central leader. Dense, symmetrical branching forming a wide conical silhouette. Slower growing and fuller than seed-grown Colorado spruce.

Foliage Description: Stiff, sharply pointed needles with intense silver-blue to steel-blue coloration. Needles borne radially along branches, producing dense layered branch tiers. Consistent blue tone in full sun.

Flower Description: Inconspicuous; not ornamental.

Bloom Time: Spring (non-ornamental reproductive structures).

Fall Color: Evergreen; consistent silver-blue foliage year-round.

Light Requirements: Full sun for strongest color and density.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 2–7 (reliable in Northeast Zones 5–7).

Notable Landscape Uses: Lawn specimen; foundation backdrop; windbreak component; evergreen focal point; formal accent tree.

Deer Resistance: High
Sharp needles and dense branching provide strong resistance in Northeast Zones 5–7 once established.