The’Fat Albert’spruce is a cultivar of the Colorado blue spruce ( Picea pungens ) , a species of conifer aboriginal to the western United States . It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 7 .
The Colorado spruce is notable for its dense branches covered with stiff , silverish - blue needles . Some cultivarscan chance on heights of up to 70 feet , and others are ground - hug shrubs that stay a foot high or less .
Growth Habit
' Fat Albert ' is a semi - dwarf cultivar that commonly reaches a height of between10 and 15 feet . It gets its name from its wide , pyramidical condition which , with aspread of 7 to 10 feet , may be nearly as wide as the tree is marvellous . When the tree is immature , its width may be particularly pronounced ; because its lowest subdivision are very confining to the ground , the unfledged tree often has a ball - same profile .
Growth Rate
Like most Colorado spruce change , ' Fat Albert’grows comparatively slowly . In unspoiled growing conditions , it will add6 to 10 inches in height per yr , and it takes10 year or moreto get to its full mature height . Its increase rate , however , look for the most part on climate and ethnical conditions . In unfavorable sites or in periods of drouth , the tree may only uprise 3 to 4 inches per year . Under optimum stipulation , it may spring up a foot per year .
Best Growth Conditions
smarten up treesgrow bestin full sun and in soil that is well - drained and slightly acidic , with a pH degree between 5.5 and 7 . In wakeless clay soils that do not drain well , or in alkaline territory , spruce grow more slow . A 3- or 4 - inch stratum of mulch around the theme of the tree will retain land moisture and help the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to maturate by diminish its stress .
A slow - growing tree ’s growth charge per unit may be enhance with aspring diligence of fertilizer . After the last frost and before the heart of June , lend oneself a dry plant food with a nitrogen ratio of 10 percent or less . For trees with a trunk diam of less than 6 inches , apply at a pace of .15 pound of nitrogen , and for bigger trees , apply .3 Ezra Loomis Pound of N . For exemplar , if you ’re fertilizing a 5 - inch Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with a 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer , utilize a total of 1.5 pounds of fertilizer . Spread the plant food in a circle with a diameter one and a one-half time the spread of the tree , and water soundly after the practical program .
Growth Of Fat Albert Spruce
Though perhaps not given the most flattering name , the Fat Albert blueish spruce ( Picea pungens’Fat Albert ' USDA growing zones 2 through 8) is a remarkable tree . It can live 80 years or more . Its cones are oblong in shape , usually between 2 and 4 foot long , and commence green but grow to become brown . As mentioned , the Fat Albert blue spruce , a relation of the Colorado spruce , is known as a relatively tedious agriculturist . sour granular plant food works intimately in this regard . As such , water the plant every week is recommended . During thewinter , theroots should not be allowed to dry out wholly . If the time of year cater only a little haste , water it once per calendar month . As the Fat Albert blue spruce is comparatively small , it fares well in diminished garden and front lawns . It also find veritable use and a happy home behind flora beds , where its distinct disconsolate - ish foliage act as a beautiful backdrop . Many gardener also use it to sate in a nook .
