Picea pungens 'Thomsen' / Thomsen Colorado spruce

Picea pungens 'Thomsen' is a fast-growing broadly pyramidal selection of Colorado spruce with semi-fastigiate branching and exceptionally thick, powder-blue needles. Its quality is said to rival that of P. pungens 'Hoopsii.' After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 10 to 15 feet (3 - 5 m) tall and 8 feet (2.5 m) wide, an annual growth rate of 12 to 18 inches (30 - 45 cm).

This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in 1932 by Martin Thomsen of Thomsen Nursery, Mansfield, Pennsylvania, USA. One will occasionally find plants labeled as, P. pungens 'Thompson,' 'Thompson Blue' or 'Thompsonii.' They are all typographical errors for this plant.