Colorado blue spruce tree named ‘Wards Blue Waves’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Colorado blue spruce tree named Wards Blue Waves characterized by its foliage that is silvery blue in appearance in color year around, its foliage with a very glaucous surface, its branch apexes that curve upwards, its dense and compact plant habit, its conical shape, and its short plant height; reaches 6 m after 20 years when grown in Oregon.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Colorado Blue Spruce tree named Wards Blue Waves as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Picea. The photographs were taken of 21-year-old trees as grown in the ground in Forest Grove, Oregon.

(2) FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the plant habit of Wards Blue Waves.

(3) FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of Wards Blue Waves.

(4) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Picea.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as taken from 2-year-old trees grown in 1-gallon nursery containers in Forest Grove, Oregon. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Plant type.Coniferous evergreen. Growth habit.Conical, dense, upright. Height and spread.An average of 35 cm in height and 20 cm in width as grown in a one-gallon container, reaches 5.5 m in height and 2.5 m in width in 10 years, a 20 -year-old tree will reach 6 m in height in the landscape. Cold hardiness.At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 3. Diseases and pests.No susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases has been observed. Root description.Fibrous, moderately branched, moderately thick, a blend of N199B and N199C in color. Growth rate.Moderate, 10 to 15 cm of new growth in spring. Propagation.Grafting. Root development.Grafted in late winter with final scion successfully grafted in approximately 20 weeks, time required to produce a young tree; 12 months. Branch description: Trunk and branch shape.Rounded. Branch size.Main trunk; 22 cm in length, 1.5 cm in diameter, lateral branches; average of 14.5 cm in length, up to 3 cm in width, tertiary branches; up to 5 cm in length, 3 mm in width. Stem surface.Young stems; smooth, matte, linear streaks cover the surface, mature and old wood; rugose, bark-like and matte. Branching.Average of 14 lateral branches, 4 tertiary branches per lateral, strong central leader. Stem arrangement.Lateral branches; whorled to opposite, tertiary branches; opposite. Stem aspect.Strong, main stem vertical, lateral and tertiary stems held in a slightly upright angle, apex of new branches curved upwards. Internode length.1 to 5 cm. Stem color.Young stems; striations of 164A and 164B, mature stems; close to 164B, old wood; blend of N200D and 199B. Resin glands.None observed. Foliage description: Leaf arrangement.Densely whorled needles. Leaf attachment.Sessile. Leaf shape.Acicular, needle shaped. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf base.Cuneate. Leaf apex.Sharp and pointed, linear. Leaf venation.Not visible. Leaf margins.Entire. Leaf fragrance.When crushed, it produces a pine-like fragrance. Leaf surface.Upper and lower surface; matte, highly glaucous. Leaf color.Emerging; 138B, year around with sun exposure 190A with heavy glaucous coating of 97D, shaded foliage 138B. Leaf texture.Dense, stiff and strong. Leaf aspect.Vertical to slightly bowed to branch. Leaf size.An average of 2.3 cm in length and 1.5 mm in diameter. Leaf quantity.Average of 150 per branch 11 cm in length. Leaf buds.Average cluster of 3 on a lateral branch, up to 5 mm in length and 3 mm in width, 172A in color, comprised of imbricate scales orbicular and cupped in shape and average of 1 mm in length and width. Cone description: Cone production has not been observed to date.