two differences between picea pungens and P. p. Hoopsi first .. spring coloration ... on hoopsi absolutely stunning .. on others.. real nice.. on some.. just a plain old green tree ... second .. winter coloration.. or in the alternative.. how long the blue hangs on to the leave ... some start greening immediately .. and others can make it through the heat of summer.. while others dull up in winter ... hoopsi is the bluest winter color .... or any of those listed in the next sentence .... Hoopsi .. Thomsen and Endtz .... to my eye are basically look alike plants .... i have been told by some ... that there are differences.. and actually stood still for 10 minutes while Arrowhead bob detailed it for me ... i did not 'see'; what he showed me .. did not understand what he showed me.. and have no recollection of what he told me ... and i was sober ... but i am throughly thankful he took the time ... lol pic of hoopsi in full spring flush below ... BUT IT NOW!!! ken note the dullness of winter to the new flush second tree .... yes i actually own two ... quite rare in my 'collection' .. to have more than one .... and another pic ....

Some I discovered yesterday: Pinus strobus Stowe Pillar with Two Cones: Pinus strobus Stowe Pillar cone Pinus strobus Hayden loaded with cones. New broom from Kevin/kman, a two-year graft: Dax

Female strobili above, male below. Females become familiar seed-bearing cones, males emit pollen and then drop. I have noticed small 'Silberlocke' similarly decked out this year.

hollyshome... start your own post next time.. so the answers come to you ... a plain old abies kor is NOT going to remain a small tree ... nor i suspect ... are the others you claim will only be 6 to 8 feet .... research the latin names of each .... and find the estimated growth rates of your plants ... MOST listed heights are at 10 years ... year 11 .. they are ten plus the growth rate ...most they will continue at the growth rate for the rest of your life ... after transplant.. by about the third year.. you will see the annual growth rate ... i bring this up.. so that you can decide now.. while they are still small .. if perhaps you need to rethink some of your plantings ... a plant like silberloche ... will not grow like the plain old green one.. it will be slower... a dwarf of the larger parent ... but it still might grow 6 to 12 inches a year.. depending on how happy it is ... never trust labels.. and learn a lot more.. there are some great conifer tutorials and a good database at the American Conifer Society website.. ken