Blue Spruce

About this plant

The Picea pungens 'Fat Albert' is a premier selection of Blue Spruce, celebrated for its stout, symmetrical, and naturally dense conical form. Its striking silvery-blue needles provide year-round color and texture, making it an exceptional focal point or a dramatic addition to a mixed evergreen planting. This cultivar boasts superior disease resistance and a more compact growth habit than many other blue spruce varieties, offering a cleaner, more refined aesthetic with less maintenance. Its strong, upright central leader ensures a classic Christmas tree shape as it matures. Perfect for creating a grand statement in larger gardens, as a majestic screening plant, or to add significant vertical interest, 'Fat Albert' is a robust and enduring choice that will elevate the beauty of your outdoor space for decades.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Best planted in well-drained soil in a full sun location. Water regularly during establishment and deeply during prolonged dry spells. Avoid overly wet conditions. Pruning is generally not required unless to remove dead or damaged branches. Fertilize in spring with a slow-release evergreen fertilizer if desired.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.