Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen' / Walnut Glen Colorado spruce

Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen' slow-growing, upright pyramidal selection of Colorado spruce with foliage that flushes golden yellow in spring, then later fades to grayish Blue, frosted with golden highlights as the season progresses. Missouri Botanical Garden suggests that the variegated needles may suffer some scorch in young plants until they are well established. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and and 2.5 feet (75 wide), an annual growth rate of around 6 inches (15 cm).

This cultivar originated as a unique specimen found by Vermont's Greg Williams growing in a private landscape in Walnut Glen, a subdivision of suburban Chester Country in southeastern Pennsylvania. He provisionally named the plant 'Goldie' in honor of the property owner, but later changed it to the name we use today. To this day, it is sometimes still seen listed as 'Goldie.'

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Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen.' It was rescued from a garden center that was trying to turn it blue.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen' — a mature specimen in The Harper Collection at Hidden Lakes Gardens seen during the 2000 ACS National Meeting.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen' growing in Pittsburg, Pennsylania. Photo was taken in late August. Its golden color fades as new growth matures.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen' —a closeup of foliage detail. Notice the golden cast. This photo was taken in late summer. The new growth of spring is much more buttery but the color fads to blue as it hardens off.
Photo by Bill Barger
Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen'
Photo by Ernie Wiegand, Green Industry Images
Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen' — a push of new growth, Half Moon Nursery, Holicong, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Larry Nau
Picea pungens 'Walnut Glen' — lighting up the early spring in a private garden in Wisconsin.
Photo by Randy Nelson

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