Inci Nursery applies a selection program for the production of Blue Spruce seedlings. Our Blue Spruce seedlings, grown from seed, have an average of 2-3 seedlings per container. This number is increased until the seedlings reach 4-5 years of age and their color becomes apparent. After that, we cut off the green seedlings, reducing the number to 1. The remaining seedlings are blue. This process increases the blueness rate from 10-15% in seeds like Kaibab-Apache and San Juan to 75-80%. As a result of these practices, the non-blue seedlings are included in the grafting program.
With 30 years of experience and tens of thousands of saplings, we can say this: We are proud of the thousands of saplings planted in many parts of the country, their “seeds” sown in the soil at İnci Nursery and grown there. We are also proud to be an example to hundreds of producers who obtain their young saplings from our nursery, grow them in their fields, and generate income from them.
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens Glauca)
Natural Habitat of Blue Spruce They live in natural forest areas in the high-altitude, snowy, and cold regions of the US states of Colorado and Arizona. Seeds are collected from National Forests and private areas in these states. The main areas include Colorado’s Rio Grande and San Isabel National Forests, Colorado’s San Juan County, Arizona’s Kaibab National Forest, and Arizona’s Apache Territory. They are among the most popular trees used in landscaping in snowy climates. They adapt to many soil types and are resistant to drought, poor soils, and polluted city air. They form a pyramidal crown from the ground. Their most important characteristic is the blue color of their needles.
Blue Spruce is a very successful tree in Ankara, Central Anatolia, and Eastern Anatolia, regions with climates very similar to its natural habitat in the USA. It is resistant to temperatures as low as -45°C. In Ankara, there are specimens that are 70-80 years old. Due to the harsh winters in Central and Eastern Anatolia, Blue Spruce seedlings grown from seed in these regions acquire a more pronounced blue color compared to those grown in the Marmara, Aegean, and Black Sea regions. However, in temperate climates and shady conditions, they lose their characteristic blue color.
Blue Spruce Development
Seedlings show very slow growth in the first 4-5 years. Root formation, lignification of the trunk, and reaching sufficient thickness are only completed at 4-5 years of age. Until these ages, seedlings experience a certain percentage of losses each year. After this age, these losses cease. For landscaping applications, it is appropriate to use seedlings that are 8-12 years old and 150-250 cm tall. Due to their shallow and fibrous root system, they are very resistant to transplanting and planting at higher heights. With the right season, they can be easily removed and replanted up to 4-5 meters in height.
