Spruce The Fat Albert
Is A Great Member Of Picea Family
The
Fat Albert Spruce is a great
accent tree for a variety of landscapes and
garden settings. This specie is also known
as
Royal Blue or Picea pungens.
It grows well in zones three through
eight in the United States.
The Fat Albert thrives in full sun but can survive
in a few hours of shade.
This specie will mature
ten to fifteen feet high, and eight to twelve feet
wide.
It is considered a moderately slow grower,
and likes well drained soil. Once the tree is
established, it is a low maintenance specimen.
The needle like leaves are a teal color. In spring,
new growth appears and the needles appearance
changes to a rich two tone teal and lime green.
The Fat Albert is considered a dwarf
of the large 30 to 40 member Spruce family.
They are native to Scandinavia, Canada,
and the United States. Canada grows many of
these varieties commercially.
Some of the largest
species of this family can mature up to 200 feet tall.
Some of my clients have a berm or are looking to
landscape a small bank area.
There are many trees and shrubs that will compliment
the Fat Albert. Incorporating a few other evergreens
in a straight row or staggered planting will create a
color back drop or privacy area.
Dutch Gardens or Come To Buy has a fantastic product line of bulbs and plants that would accent the Fat Albert and other evergreens
in your garden or landscapes.
Match up the teal tone of the Fat Albert with your favorite perennial or annual flowers.
This Spruce specimen is cold hardy and one of the
reasons it does so well in northern climates. This
is also a great specimen in a
theme colored garden.
I love the Dwarf Fat Albert. This is a great specimen for a smaller garden or landscape area.
Dwarf Fat Albert
One of my favorite projects is to use the dwarf in a decorative pot. Plant the dwarf in the center, surround with
perennial or annual flowers. Add a couple of flowing ivy plants. Makes a great accent for a porch, deck, or balcony.
The Carolina Sapphire, Blue or Gray Owl Juniper,
as well as the Blue Star Juniper will create a
teal haven for your specific area. Accent your
blue tone outdoor features such as stone, brick,
or furniture with any of these plants.
You can also create a mass of color using the Fat Albert
with some Loropetalums, Rheingold Arborvitaes,
and some variegated Cypress.
When doing a specific garden or landscape area, consider adding some colorful
flowering shrubs to the Fat Albert.
Plant the flowering shrubs throughout the bed. If the flowering shrubs are deciduous, add some evergreen shrubs around them so you don't have
dead space during the colder months.
The Fat Albert Spruce is a sure winner in many
different outdoor settings and will create a
wonderful evergreen addition to your outdoor
property.