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.