Picea engelmannii 'Squaw Pass' #36 is a dwarf, conical selection of Engelmann spruce with somewhat open branching and pendant tips. Foliage is species-typical gray green in color. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 24 inches (60 cm) tall and wide, an annual growth rate of around 2 inches (5 cm).
This cultivar originated as a witch's broom found in the 1980s on Squaw Pass, which is along state highway 103, west of Denver, Colorado. Jerry Morris is credited with it's discovery and nomination, first designating it [#36], meaning that this was Jerry's 36th named Engelmann spruce selection. From his field notes, he describes the original broom as, "a broom, branch about 10'™ up, 3'™x3'™, thick, double needles, almost pendulous, and no up tendencies at all, below a big curve corner ½ mile or so on the Squaw Pass." Nomenclature purists will list this conifer as, Picea engelmannii 'Squaw Pass' #36.
