{"product_id":"blue-totem-colorado-spruce","title":"Blue Totem Colorado Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Narrow, Columnar Blue Spruce for Tight Spaces\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlue Totem Colorado Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea pungens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Blue Totem') delivers the bold powder-blue color of Colorado spruce in a remarkably narrow, columnar form. Reaching 10-15 feet tall but only 2-3 feet wide, it brings vertical blue structure to spots where a full spruce would never fit. A striking, space-saving accent for entries, corners, and modern beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlue Totem Colorado 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 pungens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Blue Totem'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlue Totem Colorado Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-15 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-3 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to moderate - 6-12 inches 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 - vivid powder-blue needles on a narrow column\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, sharp 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 columnar blue selection of Colorado spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlue Totem Colorado Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Blue Accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts slim blue column adds vertical color where width is tight - entries, corners, and side yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFormal Pairs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStriking flanking a doorway or gate, or repeated along a walk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Blue Totem Colorado 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 Totem Colorado Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow vertical accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt just 2–3 feet wide, Blue Totem is a living exclamation point — perfect for flanking an entry, framing a doorway, or adding height to a perennial bed in tight Edina, Plymouth, or Wayzata yards where a full-size spruce would never fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSlim privacy screening\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts columnar habit makes a remarkably space-efficient screen. Plant 3–4 feet apart for a narrow blue wall along a fence line or between closely spaced houses — ideal for the narrow side yards common in Minneapolis and St. Paul.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoundation and mixed evergreen beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vivid powder-blue needles pop against green arborvitae and gold-tipped junipers. Use Blue Totem to anchor a corner or punctuate a foundation planting, keeping it clear of roof eaves where sliding snow can damage branches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season winter interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the garden goes dormant, Blue Totem holds its striking blue color and vertical form through five months of Minnesota winter, giving the landscape year-round structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Blue Totem Colorado 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 and before winter wind can dry the needles. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the second-best option. Avoid summer planting when possible — heat and dry wind stress new evergreens. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground and frost-heaving kill new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Blue Totem Colorado 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. Heavy clay benefits from an even wider hole.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't create a pure-compost \"container\" the roots won't leave.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — 3–4 feet apart for a narrow screen; 5+ feet for individual accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a 3–4 inch 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 — 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood-chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Blue Totem Colorado 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 (15–25 minutes)\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 — evergreens lose moisture through their needles all winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants only need supplemental water during droughts (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently — every 7–14 days during dry spells, soaking to 6–8 inches depth. Let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Blue Totem Colorado Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily. Colorado spruce is hardy to roughly -40°F (zone 2–3), so a Twin Cities winter is no challenge. Water deeply in late fall and keep the root zone mulched to prevent winter needle dryness in the first year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Blue Totem deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce — the stiff, sharp needles are unpalatable — making Blue Totem a dependable choice for high-pressure deer suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow wide does Blue Totem get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExceptionally narrow — just 2–3 feet wide at maturity even as it climbs to 10–15 feet tall. That tight footprint is the whole point: vertical blue color without the sprawl of a standard Colorado spruce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — give it full sun (6+ hours) for the densest growth and most vivid blue color. It tolerates light shade but grows looser and greener with less light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBonny Blue Colorado Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a compact, broadly pyramidal blue spruce for yards with a bit more room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMedora Juniper\u003c\/strong\u003e — an extra-hardy narrow blue-green column for tight, sunny spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSky Trails Serbian Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a graceful, narrow spruce with two-tone green-and-silver needles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTechny Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a classic dense evergreen for fast, deer-tolerant privacy hedges.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Blue Totem Colorado Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a slim privacy screen, space Blue Totem 3–4 feet on center:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScreen Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants at 3.5 ft Spacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–16 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor accents, use a single column as an exclamation point, a matched pair flanking a door or gate, or a rhythm of 3 repeated along a walk at 5–6 feet apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBlue Totem Colorado Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright powder-blue new needles flush along the column in May, the year's most vivid color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The tight blue spire holds its hue through heat, needing only occasional deep watering in drought.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steel-blue color sharpens in cool weather, standing out against golden fall foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e A narrow blue sentinel in the snow — its stiff, short branches shed snow well and hold form all winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Evergreen   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bonny-blue-colorado-spruce\"\u003eBonny Blue Colorado Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a compact pyramidal blue spruce that echoes the color at a broader scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/medora-juniper\"\u003eMedora Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — another ultra-narrow, ultra-hardy column with softer blue-green texture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sky-trails-serbian-spruce\"\u003eSky Trails Serbian Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a graceful narrow spruce whose two-tone needles flatter Blue Totem's solid blue.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/techny-arborvitae\"\u003eTechny Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a dense green hedge backdrop that makes the blue column pop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Blue Totem Colorado Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Blue Totem if you have a sunny, well-drained spot only a few feet wide — an entry, side yard, or narrow lot line — and want bold blue vertical structure that deer leave alone. It's not a fit for shady sites or for anyone wanting a full-size spruce presence: in less than six hours of sun it grows loose and green, and its 2–3 foot footprint will never fill a wide windbreak role.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#10 Gallon","offer_id":54295930994993,"sku":"GT-E1835.5","price":205.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#15 \/ 3'","offer_id":54295931027761,"sku":"GT-E1836","price":301.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#20 \/ 42-48 in","offer_id":54295931060529,"sku":"GT-E1838","price":411.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4' B\u0026B","offer_id":54295931093297,"sku":"GT-E1839","price":439.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/blue-totem-colorado-spruce.jpg?v=1779469307","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/blue-totem-colorado-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}