{"product_id":"picea-pungens-blue-diamond","title":"Blue Diamond Blue Spruce - Picea pungens ‘Blue Diamond’","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e the plant, free delivery and professional installation by our planting team. One price, whole job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBlue Diamond Blue Spruce - Picea pungens ‘Blue Diamond’\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the bluest of the Colorado spruce selections available in Australia, \u003cem\u003ePicea pungens\u003c\/em\u003e ‘Blue Diamond’ holds stiff, sharply pointed needles in an intense powder blue on a naturally conical frame. It is a cool climate plant and should be treated as one: in the highlands, Tasmania, Victoria and cooler parts of New South Wales and South Australia it is a genuine feature conifer, while in humid subtropical gardens it sulks and eventually fails.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy Blue Diamond Blue Spruce\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeedle colour\u003c\/strong\u003e: The waxy bloom on new growth gives a strong silver blue that is retained through the year in full sun.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNatural cone shape\u003c\/strong\u003e: It forms a symmetrical pyramid without pruning, which is why it is the classic living Christmas tree.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e: Frost, snow and hard winters are entirely within its range, unlike most feature conifers.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSlow growth\u003c\/strong\u003e: It stays in scale with a garden for many years rather than overwhelming it within a decade.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour contrast\u003c\/strong\u003e: The blue reads powerfully against green hedging, stone walls and autumn foliage.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCool climate lawn specimen\u003c\/strong\u003e: A single tree with clear ground around it, allowing the pyramid to be seen from base to tip.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLiving Christmas tree\u003c\/strong\u003e: Grown in a large container and brought in for the season, then returned outdoors.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCottage and highland gardens\u003c\/strong\u003e: Anchors mixed borders in Bowral, Ballarat, Mount Macedon and similar districts.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour accent in evergreen schemes\u003c\/strong\u003e: Used sparingly among dark green conifers where the blue provides contrast.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 to 2.5m centres if used in a row, though it is rarely a screening plant\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 to 5m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Autumn and early spring, into cool moist soil\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil. It will not tolerate waterlogging, prolonged heat with humidity, or shallow dry soil over rock.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply once or twice a week through the first two summers, as young spruce are shallow rooted and dry out quickly. Mulch generously to keep the root zone cool, avoid cultivating around the base, and do not shear it, since spruce reshoot poorly from old wood.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 to 7m over many years in Australian gardens\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2 to 3m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen conifer\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun; colour fades in shade\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rocky Mountains of western North America (species)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Insignificant; cones only\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"400mm","offer_id":59795367362846,"sku":"ND-1352-400MM","price":1100.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/ZAhunhzYaleSXywg1z5gK_9utK1vIn.jpg?v=1787314318","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/picea-pungens-blue-diamond","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}