Picea pungens 'Hartsel' is a uniformly globose selection of Colorado spruce with dense, radiating branches; shimmering, grayish Blue needles and prominent orange-brown foliar buds. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 18 inches (45 cm) tall and wide, an annual growth rate of 1.5 inches (4.5 cm).
This cultivar originated as a witch's broom found by Jerry Morris of Lakewood, Colorado. He found the original broom on the north side of Trout Creek Pass in Colorado's front range, southwest of Denver, not far from the small town of Hartsel for which he eventually named the plant. In his notes Jerry described the broom as, 5-8'™ tall, 20-24' wide, tight, Blue. 'Hartsel' was the 17th Pinus pungens broom that Jerry Morris found in his brooming career and many purists will list and label this conifer as Picea pungens 'Hartsel' #17.
