Picea pungens Mrs Cesarini - Blue Spruce

Picea pungens 'Mrs Cesarini' is a dwarf form of the Colorado blue spruce that is extremely attractive. It develops into a flat and wide dome, adorned with densely arranged soft green-blue needles, and adorned in early spring with decorative, orange young shoots. Its very slow growth and small size, with no maintenance required, make it suitable for planting in rock gardens, as well as in flowerbeds or even in pots on the terrace. It thrives anywhere, as long as it is in the sun, in well-drained soil, even occasionally dry or limestone. 

Native to the west coast of the United States and the Rocky Mountains of North America, up to Canada, the Picea pungens, also known as the Colorado blue spruce or blue spruce, is a hardy evergreen conifer belonging to the pinaceae family. In its natural environment, it grows slowly, presenting an elegant and very regular conical habit, with horizontally layered branches. This tree, which can reach a height of 25 to 40 m (82 to 131 ft 2 in), tolerates limestone soils and some drought.

The 'Mrs Cesarini' variety is derived from a witch's broom found in the late 1970s by Joe Cesarini in New York. It is a charming small conifer with a very dense and initially globose habit, which then spreads to form a sort of large cushion. Its growth is very slow, so that at 10 years old, it reaches about 30 cm (11.8 in) in height, and 75 cm (0 and 29.5 in) in width. After many years, it measures about 50 cm (19.7 in) in height and 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) in width. This variety produces short and thick branches covered with very short and sharp needles, densely and radially arranged around the branches. Its young spring shoots contrast nicely with the mature foliage. The rest of the year, its colour is a watery green. Its scaly grey-purple bark is quite decorative.

The 'Mrs Cesarini' blue spruce, with its beautifully coloured foliage, compact growth, low maintenance, and ease of cultivation, is a perfect plant for rock gardens, terraces, or large ground cover planting. It thrives in many situations, in various climates, as long as the soil is well-drained and the exposure is sunny. This plant goes well with stone walls, geometric lines of pools, and masonry works. It can be combined with spring or summer annuals, which will enhance its foliage. The architectural qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden. These plants provide lasting structure to a flowerbed, mark pathways, and border the terrace. They go well with heathers or shrubby salvias, as well as ground cover plants such as aubrietas and cerastiums, and flowering shrubs like gauras. The key is to play with volumes and colours.