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. The Fat Albert is also known as Royal Blue or Picea pungens. This specie grows well in zones three through eight in the United States. This is one of my favorite trees to accent in a garden project.





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 bank, and I will make a suggestion to plant the Fat Albert Spruce as an accent tree. This specie also looks striking near rocks.

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. 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. 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. The Fat Albert is a sure winner in many different outdoor settings and will create a wonderful colorful addition to your outdoor property.