{"product_id":"blue-planet-spruce","title":"Blue Planet Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eOne of the World's Smallest Blue Spruce Globes\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlue Planet Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea glauca\u003c\/em\u003e 'Blue Planet') is a true miniature - an exceptionally slow, dense little globe of fine blue-green needles, often growing barely an inch a year. Reaching only about a foot across in a decade, it is a prized collector's gem for troughs, fairy gardens, and the very front of a rockery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlue Planet Spruce Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePicea glauca\u003c\/em\u003e 'Blue Planet'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlue Planet Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-2 feet (very slow)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-2 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery slow - about 1 inch per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; water deeply through the first two seasons.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - tiny, fine blue-green needles in a tight globe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood - deer rarely browse spruce; the stiff needles deter them.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot native; a dwarf white spruce selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlue Planet Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTroughs \u0026amp; Miniature Gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts tiny, tight globe is perfect for troughs, fairy gardens, and miniature conifer collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCollector's Gem\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA featured specimen for the front of rockeries and special small-space spots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Blue Planet Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring through early fall all work, but late August through mid-September is ideal, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes. Water deeply once a week the first season and mulch to hold moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlue Planet Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePremier rock garden and trough specimen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the smallest, slowest spruces in the world, Blue Planet forms a tight blue-green globe just 1–2 feet across — a true collector's gem for rock gardens, alpine troughs, and miniature conifer beds in Edina, Plymouth, or Minneapolis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMiniature and fairy gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts tiny scale and dense globe shape make it perfect for miniature gardens, fairy gardens, and tabletop troughs, where it reads like a perfectly proportioned little tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContainers and entry pots\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing only about an inch a year, Blue Planet is an ideal long-term container evergreen for a special pot by the door — it won't outgrow its home for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season interest at small scale\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tight blue-green globe holds its color and form through five months of Minnesota winter, adding a jewel-like evergreen detail when the garden is otherwise bare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Blue Planet Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor evergreens, the ideal window is \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving roots time to establish before the ground freezes. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the second-best option. Avoid summer planting. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground and frost-heaving kill new roots. Container plants can be set out anytime the ground is workable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Blue Planet Spruce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, the same depth as the ball.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt prefers well-drained ground — in heavy clay or a low spot, plant slightly high on a small mound so the crown never sits in water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; for troughs and containers use a gritty, well-draining mix.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — single plants need almost no room; space 12–18 inches apart for a tiny grouping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a small ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove it before winter to avoid ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch — 1–2 inches of fine bark mulch, kept off the stems. (Decorative stone over the soil in a trough is fine; just don't rely on gravel as the only insulation in the ground.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Blue Planet Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches\/month June–August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive one deep watering in early December if fall was dry — small plants and containers are especially prone to winter dryness\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants are easygoing and only need supplemental water during true droughts. Container and trough plants dry out faster, so check them weekly in summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Blue Planet Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — as a white-spruce selection it's reliable to roughly -40°F (zone 3). Trough and container plants benefit from being tucked against the house or heeled into a bed for their first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTiny — about 1–2 feet after many years, growing only an inch a year. It's prized precisely because it stays so small and perfectly globe-shaped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce, so this little globe is worry-free even in high-pressure deer areas like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — full sun (6+ hours) keeps the globe tight and the color best. In shade it loosens and loses its neat shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tiny blue-green cushion for rock gardens and troughs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a low blue-gray bun of a Minnesota-native spruce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlue Teardrop Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a small blue, teardrop-shaped dwarf for beds and containers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a soft, ball-shaped dwarf arborvitae for low edging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Blue Planet Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlue Planet is a miniature specimen, not a hedge plant. Use one per trough, container, or rock-garden pocket where it can be admired up close. For a miniature conifer bed, plant in groups of 3–5 spaced 12–18 inches apart — at roughly an inch of growth a year, that spacing will look right for a decade or more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlue Planet Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh, slightly brighter blue-green new needle tips emerge over the older globe — subtle but charming at close range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The tight cushion of fine blue-green needles holds its perfect globe shape with essentially no pruning, staying neat through heat and humidity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Color and form stay unchanged while the rest of the garden winds down, making it a steady anchor in troughs and rockery pockets.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The dense little globe shrugs off −40°F and holds its blue-green color under snow — a jewel-like evergreen detail for five months of Minnesota winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/echiniformis-hedgehog-spruce\"\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a flattened blue-green cushion that pairs perfectly with Blue Planet's globe in a trough.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-black-spruce-nana\"\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a low, blue-gray native bun that adds contrast in texture at the same tiny scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-teardrop-spruce\"\u003eBlue Teardrop Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — its teardrop silhouette plays off Blue Planet's sphere in a miniature conifer collection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mr-bowling-ball-arborvitae\"\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a soft, rounded dwarf arborvitae that echoes the globe form in a finer, sage-green texture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Blue Planet Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Blue Planet if you have a full-sun spot (6+ hours), reasonably drained soil or a trough with gritty mix, and you want a no-prune miniature evergreen that deer ignore — ideal for rock gardens, fairy gardens, and long-term entry pots. It's not a fit if you need real coverage or screening: at an inch of growth a year it will never fill space, and in shade the globe loosens and loses its shape.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1 Gallon","offer_id":54295927193905,"sku":"GT-E1317","price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/blue-planet-spruce.jpg?v=1779469308","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/blue-planet-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}