Fat Albert Spruce in Little Rock area?

17 years ago

I just saw a few of these at Lowes today and they are gorgous. 4-6' specimens for $100. Wonderful color and many of needles are actually tender.

Would the Fat Albert do well in the Little Rock area? If so, is this a good time to plant? Any advice on how to plant would be appreciated, such as size of hole and fertilizer.

I've been doing some googling for this tree and it looks like it likes a lot of water, at least initially and full sun if sometimes mentioned. I don't think the location we have in mind would be full sun for the entire day, but it would get some full sun.

johnny

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Comments (4)

tcharles26
17 years ago
I don't know the answer to your question, but I also saw some at a local nursery that looked really nice and I would be very skeptical that it would do well where I live. My point being just becuase a nursery or worse yet a big hardware store will sell it to you doesn't mean it's a good choice.

But having said that, Lowes will probably guarantee it for a year, so just keep your receipt in a safe place.
cdjr
17 years ago
I have a Fat Albert at the front corner of the house. It gets half-day, afternoon, sun and has grown from 7' to about 13' in 6 years. It doesn't have as intense blue color as it did when planted but still distinctly blue.
Most of the sites I've seen list it good to zone 7.
It really is a gorgeous tree, mine has stayed uniform and full. I say go for it!
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There are also some nice large-ish trees a bit further south in Buckhead. Again, it can be done, but the odds are not good. Many of the trees further north in the southwest mountains of North Carolina, where summer temperatures almost never rise above 85 F (and are usually in the mid to upper 70s) and steep slopes ensure good drainage - even those look ratty. Having said all of that, I have three P. pungens in my own garden. One has been in the ground for four years old and is beginning to show signs of stress, one is three years old and looks great, and one is less than a year old (I only have the latter because it was one of the ACS Conifers of the Year this year). I have lost three other blue spruce, and became a skeptic about this species in our region a while ago. I'm hopeful but not very optimistic (surprise, surprise) about the long-term survival of ones still alive. There is certainly nothing wrong with giving it a shot - I'm a huge fan of experimentation. But experimenting can be expensive and lead to disappointment if expectations aren't tempered. I agree with Sara (in addition to what everyone else has said in this thread) that 'Landscaping with Conifers and Ginkgo for the Southeast' is a great book. in my opinion, if you're going to be serious about conifer gardening in the southeast, you should own a copy.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
with the guarantee .. what do you have to lose ...

BUT DONT PLANT IT WHILE THE NEW GROWTH IS TENDER ..... IMHO ... leave it in the pot .. keep it properly watered ... let it dry between waterings ... and plant it when the new growth starts to harder ...

it is currently in a super growth phase, and perhaps not the best time to mess with the roots .... let it slow down .. and you should be all set ...

i have been know to secure a bargain ... plant the pot and all below the soil line.. we dont want a black edge to catch sunlight and mess with the root ball ... I WORK WITH SAND THOUGH .. AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE IN A CAULDRON OF CLAY ..... perhaps another post on subject if you are considering such ....

and then plant it properly in the fall ....

this might be your best option in a location where the heat of summer is extra hard ... disturbing the roots a few weeks before the heat hits, might be a recipe for disaster.. subject to the warranty ...

good luck

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tcharles26
17 years ago
I like Ken's idea of sinking the pot until fall, and mulching around the top if it. If anything the container should drain better because contact with the soil throught the drain holes will wick water from the bottom of the container. Above the ground water never drains from the bottom of a container, even a container with little or no bottom.

Also, someone on this forum posted a paper from th JC Rauston Arboretum that discussed heat tolerant spruces. In their expereince some cultivars of picea pungens are more heat tolerant than others, with Iseli Foxtail being near or at the top of the list.

Fat Albert Spruce in Little Rock area?

Comments (4)

tcharles26

cdjr

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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