RUBY TEARDROPS DWARF COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE

RUBY TEARDROPS DWARF COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE Homeowner Growing & Maintenance Tips

• Recommended Soil:
• Prefers well-drained soil with moderate fertility.
• Adapts to sandy, loamy, and rocky soils.
• Avoid poorly drained or consistently wet locations.
• Benefits from a layer of mulch to moderate soil temperatures.
• Sun Exposure:
• Performs best in morning sun with full afternoon shade.
• Light afternoon shade is tolerated in warmer climates.
• Maximum sunlight encourages the richest blue foliage and best cone production.
• Provide good air circulation around the plant.
• Irrigation Needs:
• Water regularly during the first growing season.
• Demonstrates good drought tolerance once established.
• Allow the soil surface to dry slightly between watering.
• Avoid prolonged periods of saturated soil.
• Feeding & Nutrients:
• Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring if desired.
• Generally requires little supplemental feeding.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen, which may reduce compact growth.
• Healthy, well-drained soil is the key to long-term performance.
• Pruning & Maintenance:
• Requires little to no pruning.
• Remove damaged or dead branches as needed.
• Avoid shearing, which can disrupt its naturally dense form.
• Enjoy the cones through spring before removing any spent growth if desired.

Family: Pinaceae · Common Name: Spruce

FREE with every plant purchased:

• The Sooner Guarantee: For details, click here!
• A pre-applied, pre-measured amount of time release fertilizer that keeps your plant well nourished for up to one year.
• Pre-hydrated Hydro-Gels are included in the top of each container to use when planting as they help retain soil moisture, and plants will establish more quickly with less transplant shock. Plants will also survive drought-like conditions and accidental missed waterings better.
• Planting and Care Instruction brochure.
• Catalogs of new and exciting plant brands, such as Garden Debut® and Proven Winners®.

We use and recommend www.dripdepot.com for our irrigation needs, from simple to install micro and drip systems, to commercial grade irrigation parts and supplies.

Interesting Notes About RUBY TEARDROPS DWARF COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE

• Nature's Holiday Decorations: The brilliant ruby-red cones appear naturally each spring and can remain colorful for up to two months before gradually maturing to soft brown, creating one of the longest-lasting cone displays among dwarf conifers.
• One of the Bluest Spruces: Ruby Teardrops is prized for its exceptionally icy-blue needles, making the vivid red spring cones appear even brighter through dramatic color contrast.
• Collector's Favorite: Few dwarf conifers combine outstanding blue foliage, colorful cones, and a compact growth habit in one plant, making Ruby Teardrops highly sought after by conifer enthusiasts and collectors.
• Built for Harsh Winters: Descended from the rugged Colorado Blue Spruce, this selection is exceptionally cold hardy and actually appreciates cold winters, wind, and snowy conditions that challenge many ornamental evergreens.
• A Conversation Starter Every Spring: The unusual ruby-red cones are so abundant that many first-time viewers mistake them for flowers or berries, making this one of the most photographed and talked-about conifers in the landscape.