Thomsen Blue Spruce Tree

Thomsen is a fast-growing, broadly pyramidal selection of Colorado spruce with semi-fastigiate branching and exceptionally thick powder-blue needles. The American Conifer Society reports a typical ten-year size of 10 to 15 feet tall by about 8 feet wide; those figures describe an early landscape specimen, while this cultivar can grow substantially larger over time. The profile records Martin Thomsen of Thomsen Nursery as the seedling selector in 1932 and notes that “Thompson” and similar spellings are errors for this selection. Plant it in well-drained soil. Colorado spruce does best in cooler climates; young trees benefit from consistently moist soil, while established trees tolerate more drought. [The American Conifer Society’s Thomsen profile](https://conifersociety.org/conifers/picea-pungens-thomsen) documents its needles, shape, ten-year dimensions, and naming history; [NC State Extension’s blue spruce profile](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/picea-pungens/) gives broader species-level growing guidance. ## Maintenance Keep young trees watered during dry weather and remove damaged branches as needed. Allow space for the mature crown and avoid pruning that spoils its broad pyramidal form.