Habitat

• native to Western Canada to Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico
• zone 3

Habit and Form

• evergreen tree
• large, narrowly pyramidal tree with ascending branches
• 40' to 50' tall, but can reach heights of over 100'
• medium texture

Summer Foliage

• needles are densely packed and glaucous blue in color
• needles are four-sided, about 1" long
• needles have rank odor when crushed

Autumn Foliage

• no fall color, evergreen

Flowers

• not ornamentally important

Fruit

• cones found at the ends of branches
• mature cones are ovoid; 1" to 3" long by 1" wide
• pale tan color
• cone scales have irregularly toothed margins

Bark

• red-brown color
• thin loose scales

Culture

• best in well-drained, loamy, organic soils
• prefers acidic soils
• full sun

Landscape Use

• needs room to develop
• windbreak
• screen

Liabilities

ID Features

• large, narrow, evergreen tree
• ovoid, small cones
• needles are 4-sided
• rank odor when needles crushed
• blue-green needles color

Propagation

• by seed
• cultivars by grafting or some by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

'Argentea' and 'Glauca' - These are selected forms notable for their reliable silver-gray-blue needles.