Ель колючая Хупси - Picea pungens Hoopsii

Hoopsii Spruce is one of the most beautiful blue spruces, with a conical crown shape and silvery-blue needles. It is a highly decorative evergreen tree that will be a vibrant accent in any garden. The height of the Hoopsii spruce is about 10 meters, and the diameter can reach up to 5 meters. The branches are yellow-red and rigid, growing horizontally in dense layers, making the crown very full. The needles are stiff, prickly, and silvery in color, sometimes with a deep blue hue, and can grow up to 3 cm in length. Features Bright blue. Pink cones. Crown shape and height The crown has a wide conical shape, slightly asymmetrical in its early years. The maximum height is up to 10 meters, with a crown diameter of 3-4.5 meters. The crown branches out evenly, creating a dense, powerful, and straight structure. The tree grows at a rate of 15-20 cm per year. Needles The needles are silvery-blue, sometimes with a deep blue hue. They are dense, prickly, radially arranged, and not glossy. The top of the needle is pointed. Light It prefers a sunny location or partial shade. Soil It requires fertile soil and prefers fresh, fertile loamy or sandy soil. It is drought-tolerant but thrives best in soils with sufficient moisture. It cannot tolerate excessive soil moisture, compaction, or salinity. Cold hardiness It is a cold-hardy variety, suitable for Zone 3 (-40 °C). Planting The planting hole should be twice the height and width of the root ball of the purchased plant. If the soil is clayey, it is recommended to place 10-20 cm of drainage material at the bottom of the hole, such as gravel, expanded clay, broken bricks, or crushed stone. It is preferable to fill the hole with special soil for coniferous plants or a soil mixture in a ratio of 2:1:1 (two parts soil, one part peat, and one part sand). When planting, root stimulant or any other root growth stimulator can be added to the hole, as well as organic-mineral fertilizer for coniferous plants. The integrity of the root ball should be preserved unless necessary. The seedling should be positioned in a way that the root collar is not buried. After planting, the seedling should be watered well and mulched with bark, wood chips, fallen needles, or sawdust. If no organic-mineral fertilizer was added to the prepared soil mixture, any mineral fertilizer for conifers can be applied under the mulch. All grafted spruces need to be secured to a support to help the plant withstand snow and wind loads. Care Hoopsii spruce is low-maintenance and does not require much attention. However, by following some rules, you can preserve its beautiful appearance and ensure its longevity. The spruce can withstand a long period without watering, but during hot and dry periods, it is advisable to water it periodically and provide occasional misting. All seedlings need regular watering during the first month after planting. For fertilization, it is recommended to use specialized fertilizer for coniferous plants, as it contains an optimal composition of micronutrients. The tree does not require pruning, but it tolerates trimming well. The best time for pruning is the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is important to remember that no more than 1/3 of the entire crown should be removed in one year, as more drastic pruning can negatively affect the further development of the tree. If formative pruning is done to densify the crown, the best time to do it is right after the growth period on young shoots. This is approximately the end of May or June. With this type of pruning or pinching, up to 2/3 of the entire growth can be removed. Columnar varieties may suffer from heavy snowfall, so in autumn, the branches should be tied to the trunk with a rope. To prevent spring sunburn, it is beneficial to provide abundant watering in the autumn before the onset of frost. Application in landscape design Hoopsii Spruce is used for both individual and group plantings, for greening ceremonial and memorial sites, as well as for creating alleys, hedges, rows of plantings, woody-shrub groups, compositions with coniferous and herbaceous plants, and heather gardens. It is recommended for urban landscaping of squares, gardens near exhibition halls, museums, medical institutions, urban courtyards, and school gardens. Species: Pungens (Prickly) Needle color: Blue Growth color: Blue Cones: Bright Shape: Conical Annual growth: Medium-sized (15-30