sounds like they are seedling strains .... chosen based on blue color.. in other words.. not dwarf or brooms ... with reduced growth rate ...

if so.. they would grow to the standard annual growth rate.. of any such ..

the link below states: Non dwarf version of P. pungens 'C. Blue' from Jerry Morris

http://navigate.botanicgardens.org/weboi/oecgi2.exe/INET_ECM_DispPl?NAMENUM=28224&DETAIL=1

be nice to know where you are ... as it possibly impacts growth rate a bit ... but i would expect 8 to 12 inches per year ...

multiply by decades.. and you can guess size over the years ....

ken

If it's a seed strain individual specimens will vary due to differing genetics. Even more so than clones that are affected by propagation method and planting site conditions, vary therefore even though they are clones.

Hey Ken, thank you for the information. It looks like I am in zone 6a, outside of St. Louis, MO.

Much appreciated. They sure have a great color. Looks alot like a Hoopsi.

Garen, do you happen to have one yourself? I see we are in the same zone.

I will be planting 8 plants in a week or so, from 4 in pots. Will be awhile before I really get to enjoy them, but I hope it is worth the investment.

It does have a great bright color. So your planting eight 'C. Blue'? That will be one beautiful bIue grove.

I don't have one, but was thinking about adding one last year. I have since decided to not add anymore Picea pungens since all of mine recently suffered from needle cast. I'm going to be treating them with fungicide every spring and fall now, or keep a closer eye on them now to prevent it from possibly happening again. I'm not sure how they fare in St. Louis, but it seems to be a gamble here. Some do great and grow large and beautiful, untouched by the needle cast, and some get ugly, loosing a lot of needles.

Happy planting.

why not plant sooner?? ...

i would also consider not planting 4 of anything .....

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

I read that as "from 4 in[ch] pots". Otherwise the mantra to always plant in groups of 3 etc. (odd numbers) is erroneous because that results in rigidly geometric drift shapes - at least when the number of plants is small.

you are right. I am planting 8 small trees in 4 inch pots in a row.

Looks alot like a Hoopsi.

==>>> hoopsi is just a plant.. chosen for its intense color .... and yours are exactly the same ...in that sense ...

so one would expect the growth habits to be nearly the same.. within the boundaries of genetic differences among seed ...

so my shiny nickle is on yours ending up looking just like hoopsi ... and have the same annual growth rate etc ... and therein lies the answer to your original questions ... if the suppositions are correct ...

ken