{"product_id":"picea-pungens-blue-star-blue-spruce","title":"Blue Star Blue Spruce - Picea pungens ‘Blue Star’","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 Star Blue Spruce - Picea pungens ‘Blue Star’\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Blue Star' is a dwarf, cushion forming selection of the Colorado blue spruce, and its needle colour is about as intensely silver blue as conifers get. Growth is measured in a few centimetres a year, so \u003cem\u003ePicea pungens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Blue Star' stays a tight, irregular bun for a decade or more, making it a genuine rockery and container plant rather than a tree kept small by pruning. It wants cool nights, dry air and sharp drainage to look its best, so it belongs in the southern and highland parts of the country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy Blue Star Blue Spruce\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeedle Colour\u003c\/strong\u003e: A waxy bloom over each needle gives a steel blue that holds all year.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Habit\u003c\/strong\u003e: Adds only a few centimetres annually, so it stays in scale indefinitely.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRockery Scale\u003c\/strong\u003e: Small enough to sit among stone, gravel and alpine perennials without dominating.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e: Unbothered by hard frost and snow in highland gardens.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrainage Demand\u003c\/strong\u003e: Thrives on lean, gritty ground where richer plants would struggle.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRockery and Gravel Garden\u003c\/strong\u003e: The classic placement, where the blue reads against grey stone.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeature Container\u003c\/strong\u003e: A trough or wide bowl shows the cushion form to advantage.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConifer Bed\u003c\/strong\u003e: Combines with dwarf pines and junipers of contrasting colour and form.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBorder Front\u003c\/strong\u003e: Anchors the edge of a cool climate bed with year round structure.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.6 to 0.8m in a low row\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.2 to 1.5m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Autumn and early spring in cool districts\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gritty, freely draining, slightly acidic soil, raised into a mound where the ground is heavy\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply once a week through the first two summers and avoid overhead watering, which encourages needle fungal problems in humid weather. Mulch with gravel or coarse bark and leave plenty of air movement around the plant.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.6 to 1m in ten years, eventually around 1.5m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 to 1.5m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cultivar of Picea pungens, from the Rocky Mountains of North America\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e Insignificant\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"400mm","offer_id":59795375358238,"sku":"ND-1353-400MM","price":800.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500mm","offer_id":59795375391006,"sku":"ND-1353-500MM","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"600mm","offer_id":59795375423774,"sku":"ND-1353-600MM","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/Vksg8YwMJNnK9keHp9M2X_VMAJl4zg.jpg?v=1787314579","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/picea-pungens-blue-star-blue-spruce","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}