The Cranberry Tree

Colorado S. “Blues” vs. “Black Hills” S.

Since we are still in the midst of March Madness, I thought a little identification competition would be good.  We have two even matched contenders for id.  The Colorado Blue Spruce and the Black Hills Spruce.  Each have excellent point guards, literally… spruce tree needles are pointy and hurt when you touch them while pine trees are soft to the touch. 

The “Blues” are the favored, by-the-book striking team.  Colorado spruces are widely overplanted and the blue color especially easy to see on young trees and makes this tree a standout.  The branches are nearly horizontal the ground and the tree keeps its very compact shape through its life. The cones are larger (2 to 4 in. long).

The Black Hills are the scrappy, smaller underdogs.  While young, this tree is compact but as it ages the Black Hills spruces turn leggy and semi-weeping as a mature tree.   It’s scrappy character also comes with smaller cones (1 to 2 ½ in.) and drought tolerance.  This team can travel well as it is adaptable to many conditions.

So can you tell the difference?

Young Players: Black Hills Spruce (Left) and Colorado Blue Spruce (Right)

Old Players: Colorado Blue Spruce (Left) and Black Hills Spruce (right)- at Cavalier trailer court

Posted at 04:51PM Mar 30, 2009 by Lesley Lubenow in Forestry  |  Comments[0]