Scientific Name: Picea pungens
Family: Pinaceae (pine family)

Overview: Blue spruces used to be among the more popular Christmas trees in the mid-20th century, but have since become less available, perhaps due to their very prickly needles and their limited needle retention in the home. This is a pity, however, because the waxy-blue foliage of this species makes it a stunning Christmas tree whose color is rivaled only by the Arizona cypress and the white concolor fir.

Fun Facts: The state tree of Colorado and Utah. Due to its prickly needles, this is only for the brave Christmas tree connaisseur.

Etymology: So-named because of its native range centered in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, as well as the waxy blue covering to the younger foliage. "Spruce" is Middle English (c. 1100-1500 AD) and derives from the Old French Pruce, which itself comes from the Latin Prussia. Originally so-named because spruce trees were known from this region. The genus name Picea is the Latin word for "spruce tree." Pungens is Latin for "piercing" and refers to this species's very prickly needles.