AusBonsai

I have always had a fascination with plants that have blue foliage so when my mentor asked if I would ground grow one of the best for him I jumped at the chance. Picea pungens 'The Blues' is a true groundcover form that forms a stunning small tree if staked while young. Its a good 20yr project but will be well worth it for the tree we have in mind, tall & slender with branches cascading down the trunk & forming a skirt around the pot According to most info I can find it is rated as a zone 3-8 tree & my climate is zone 10 so it will be interesting to see how it goes. My mentor feels the microcliamte I am afforded being a bit further from the coast than him will help it cope.. heres to finding out

Matt

I hope that I am wrong but I think that it will peter out in less than two years. I tried a few picea when I was in Sydney and without the cold winters and the low humidity summers they usually succumbed within that period. Melbourne and the mountain areas of Vic and NSW would be more conducive. But I guess that's why they call it the blues.

Gee thanks Hack
To be honest I have never had much luck with Picea but they have always been european types, heres hoping the yankies can do better. It is fairly dry where I am but it doesnt get real cold in winter or for long... a few more k's inland & its a different story, tho maybe it would get too dry in summer Nothing ventured nothing gained, if its still going in 2yrs I will be happy, 20 will be golden