Evergreen Trees Guide

Colorado Spruce  (Picea pungens)

ht. 15 m - sp. 5 mZone 2-3              Form:  tall, pyramid shape.

This tree is fully hardy, the most drought tolerant spruce.  The blue and

silvery blue trees are very popular, but naturally vary from deep green to

blue to silvery blue.

Cultivars of the Colorado Spruce:

Bakeri, Fat Albert, Columnar, Globe Blue, Hoopsii, Montgomery, Koster Blue

Jack Pine  (Pinus banksiana)

ht.  20 m - sp. 6 m      Zone 2            Form:  broad oval with slender

                                                                twisted branches

This is an Alberta native, the twisted form of the Jack pine can be interesting.  The needles are dull yellowish green.  The bark dark brown and scaly.

Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta latifolia)

ht. 20 m - sp. 5 m                    Zone 2                         Form: Tall, straight                                                                                              and narrow

This is Alberta's official native tree.  Dull yellowish green needles.

Often used in alberta shelterbelts.

Mugo Pine  (Pinus mugo)

ht. 3 m - sp. 2.4 m     Zone 2        Form:  Mound like shape

Mugo pines can be either large or small rounded shrubs, with dense dark needles. 

Mugo's are easy to care for in average to dry sandy soil and full sun, their branches spreading wide they cover a large area.

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

ht. 12 m - sp. 6 m       Zone 3       Form:  Pyramidal tree

Scots pine have attactive flaky,  orange-red bark on the upper trunks and branches.  Twisted blue-green needles in bundles of two.  A young tree will have a pyramidal shape, but the mature form usually changes to a more broad and open crown.

Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra)

ht. 10 m - sp. 5 m     Zone 3       Form:  Pyramidal

This tree is picturesque, with dense foliage and needles that are green on

top and silvery blue on the bottom.  Excellent for planting as a single feature tree. Needs loamy, well drained soil.

White Spruce   ( Picea glauca)

ht.  20 m - sp. 5 m      Zone 2           Form:  Pyramidal

This is the native spruce, prairie hardy with short green needles which are softer to the touch than the colorado spruce.  Can be used as individual or as partof a group or shelterbelt.

Cultivars:  Black hills white spruce, Dwarf spruce 'Albertiana Conica'