{"product_id":"bonny-blue-colorado-spruce","title":"Bonny Blue Colorado Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Compact, Richly Blue Spruce for Minnesota Yards\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBonny Blue Colorado Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea pungens\u003c\/em\u003e 'Bonny Blue') is a dense, well-branched blue spruce hand-selected for strong silver-blue color and a tidy, broadly pyramidal habit. More compact and refined than the species, it tops out around 15–25 feet — a manageable blue specimen for yards where a full-size spruce would overwhelm. Whether you're anchoring a front-yard focal point in Edina, screening a property line in Maple Grove, or adding year-round structure to a Plymouth landscape, Bonny Blue delivers reliable four-season color in zone 4b–5a.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBonny Blue 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 'Bonny Blue'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBonny Blue Colorado Spruce, Blue Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–25 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–12 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — 8–12 inches per year in Minnesota\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; established trees are drought-tolerant.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–7 (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. Prefers well-drained but handles heavier soils.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen — dense, stiff, silver-blue needles held year-round\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F — bulletproof in any Twin Cities winter.\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\u003eNon-native (Rocky Mountain origin), fully cold-hardy and well adapted to Minnesota.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBest Use\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpecimen, screen, windbreak, foundation accent\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBonny Blue Colorado Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecimen and focal point\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe silver-blue color and neat pyramidal form make Bonny Blue a standout single specimen in a front yard or lawn island. Its compact size suits the average Twin Cities lot far better than a full-size Colorado spruce, which can swallow a small yard within a decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePrivacy screening and windbreaks\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlanted in a row, Bonny Blue forms a dense evergreen wall that blocks wind and views all winter long. Space plants 6–8 feet apart for a solid screen — a 40-foot property line takes roughly 6–7 plants. Pairs well with other Three Timbers evergreens for a mixed, layered screen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoundation and mixed evergreen beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse Bonny Blue to anchor the corner of a house or the back of a mixed bed, where its blue needles contrast beautifully with green arborvitae and gold-tipped junipers. Keep it clear of roof eaves where heavy snow slides can crush branches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season winter interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen deciduous trees drop their leaves and perennials die back, Bonny Blue holds its color through five months of Minnesota winter, catching snow and giving the landscape structure when little else does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Bonny Blue 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, with a full season ahead to establish. 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 Bonny Blue 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 — 6–8 feet apart for a screen; 10+ feet for individual specimens.\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 Bonny Blue 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 Bonny Blue 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. The main first-winter risk is dry needles from wind, so water deeply in late fall and keep the root zone mulched.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Bonny Blue deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce — the stiff, sharp needles are unpalatable — making Bonny Blue a dependable choice for high-pressure deer suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it really more compact than a regular blue spruce?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. 'Bonny Blue' is selected for a tighter, slower habit, maturing around 15–25 feet versus the 50–60 feet of a standard Colorado spruce — a far better fit for a typical city or suburban lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor best color and density, give it full sun (6+ hours). It tolerates light shade but grows looser and less intensely blue with less light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMeyer Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tough, blue-needled spruce that shrugs off the diseases that trouble Colorado spruce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNorth Star Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a slow, dense Minnesota-bred white spruce for compact screens and accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMedora Juniper\u003c\/strong\u003e — an extra-hardy narrow blue-green column for tight spaces and prairie sites.\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 Bonny Blue Colorado Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a privacy screen or windbreak, space Bonny Blue 6–8 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\u003eTrees at 7 ft Spacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–7 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9–10 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 trees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a specimen, one tree is the focal point — give it 10+ feet of clearance from the house, walks, and other trees so the 8–12 foot spread stays full to the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBonny Blue Colorado Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh silver-blue candles push at every tip in May, the brightest color of the year against the older steel-blue needles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The dense pyramid holds its cool blue tone through heat and drought once established — a steady anchor for summer beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue deepens as temperatures drop, contrasting sharply with the golds and reds of surrounding deciduous trees.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e The signature season — stiff branches catch and hold snow on layered blue tiers, giving the yard structure for five dormant months.\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\/meyer-spruce\"\u003eMeyer Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a disease-resistant blue-needled spruce that diversifies a screen against needle cast problems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/north-star-spruce\"\u003eNorth Star Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a slow, dense Minnesota-bred white spruce in deep green for color contrast at similar scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/medora-juniper\"\u003eMedora Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — a narrow blue-green column to punctuate the foreground of a spruce planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/techny-arborvitae\"\u003eTechny Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a fast, dense green hedge that layers beautifully behind or beside blue spruce.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Bonny Blue Colorado Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Bonny Blue if you have a full-sun spot on a typical city or suburban lot and want classic blue-spruce color at a size that won't swallow the yard — plus deer resistance and -40°F hardiness. It's not a fit for shady or poorly drained sites: with under six hours of sun it loses density and blue intensity, and standing water invites root and needle diseases.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#15 \/ 3-4'","offer_id":54295931158833,"sku":"GT-E1728","price":356.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#20 \/ 4-5'","offer_id":54295931191601,"sku":"GT-E1730","price":425.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5' B\u0026B","offer_id":54295931224369,"sku":"GT-E1730.5","price":425.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/bonny-blue-colorado-spruce.jpg?v=1779469308","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/bonny-blue-colorado-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}