Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce Tree
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
- Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce Tree is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
Click Here to learn more
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce Tree highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
-
Brand
-
Botanical Name
-
Growing Zones
-
Mature Height
-
Mature Spread
-
Sun ExposureFull Sun
-
Moisture
-
Soil
-
Growth RateSlow
-
Fall Color
-
Pruning Time
-
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Growing Zones 2-8
Fat Albert Colorado Spruce Tree - Living Christmas Tree!
Hey, hey, hey! It's Fat Albert...Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert')! Ok. We may have just dated ourselves with that, but we couldn't resist. Fat Albert is a great TV cartoon character and an even greater landscape tree!
Just as the name suggests, this is a thick, full, chunky evergreen tree that is made to fill up empty corners and bare spots.
You'll enjoy the geometric precision combined with the bold blue color! With a perfect, broad pyramidal shape. Fat Albert even makes the perfect living Christmas Tree to decorate each year! You'll love this tree, and you won't be the only one! Spruce trees provide wonderful shelter for local songbirds to nest in.
Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce tree features blue needles and a superior, rich, blue color. The gorgeous, silvery-blue gives a wonderfully cool visual relief and partners well with many other plants. New growth in spring emerges with the best blue color. You'll soon see the famous powdery Colorado Blue glaucous coating develop as the needles mature. The silvery, rich-blue needles hold really well all year long!
How to Use Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce In The Landscape
Fat Albert has the classic blue-green needles of a Blue Spruce tree, but not nearly the height. You can use it in your front yard, in borders, or to hide an eyesore.
Use a row of them to create a fantastic screen, windbreak, or sound barrier. This is also a great choice for a living Christmas Tree, covered in lights and snow in your yard.
Fat Albert looks great with any other Conifer and broadleaf evergreen! Try it in a Rock Garden or as the focal point of your front yard flower bed.
Use several of them to create a formal accent, or plant a single tree as a magnificent specimen accent. With symmetrically tiered branches and a strong profile, Fat Albert Blue brings a critical sense of structure to your landscape design.
Try a single tree as a lawn ornamental, boost curb appeal, or to selectively block the view into a window. Plant them strategically near the patio, in a side yard, or along the back fence to create privacy your whole family will enjoy.
#ProPlantTips For Care
Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce is an extremely hardy tree and tolerates many different soil types, including challenging alkaline and clay soils. It easily tolerates urban pollution, road salts, and oceanside salt spray.
For best results, a Fat Albert's ideal conditions are in a location with full sun, and in soil that drains well. They tolerate no standing water, so plant in a raised mound heaped 18 inches high if you need to improve drainage.
Give it a moderate amount of water on a regular basis. After they are established, Fat Albert Blue Spruce has great drought tolerance and is recommended on many xeriscape lists, but we recommend protecting your investment with supplemental water as needed.
Mulch to keep the root system cool in the hot summer. Avoid shaded locations, as this will affect the depth of the blue hue and result in fewer needles or bare limbs.
Fat Albert is disease and pest-free and requires no pruning, so makes a great choice for commercial plantings.
Always keep the bottom branches on the tree for the most attractive look. Remove grass underneath to protect bottom branches from lawnmower damage.
This is a very hardy tree that even shakes off roadway salt. It looks great year-round with no coddling necessary.
- Full Sun Evergreen
- Well-Drained Soil Needs
- Moderate Moisture & Loves Mulched Beds
- Easy to Grow in Most Climates
- Little to No Pruning Needed
As you can imagine, Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce trees are in high demand. Our expert growers ensure that each plant has identical color and form. Please call as soon as you see them in stock, as they are at a high risk of selling out. Fat Albert Spruce is a perfect addition to any sized garden. Order yours from Nature Hills today!
