Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Africa
Western United States
Types
Pennisetum glaucum
Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Picea omorika
Number of Varieties
735
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Warmer regions
Rocky areas, stream banks, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-112-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
8-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,200.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm900.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Brown, Purple, Purplish-black
Green, Orange, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Cream
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Blue Green, Gray Green, Steel Blue
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Needle like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring, Late Spring, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Semi-ripe cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in winter, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
15-0-15, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Spot, eyespot, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Birds
Birds
Allergy
-
allergic reaction, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hay fever, Pollen, Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Informal Hedge, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas tree
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Flowering Tips, Whole plant
Flowers, Inner Bark, Seeds
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, repels deer
Paper pulp, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
PENNISETUM glaucum 'purple millet'
PICEA pungens
Common Name
Millet, Pearl Millet
Colorado blue spruce
In Hindi
purple millet
Blue Spruce Tree
In German
purple millet
Blue Spruce Baum
In French
millet pourpre
Blue Spruce Arbre
In Spanish
purple millet
Blue Spruce Árbol
In Greek
purple millet
Blue Spruce Tree
In Portuguese
purple millet
Árvore Spruce azul
In Polish
purple millet
Blue Spruce Drzewo
In Latin
purple millet
Blue abiegnis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Coniferophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Cyperales
Pinales
Family
Poaceae
Pinaceae
Genus
Pennisetum
Picea
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
-
Tribe
Paniceae
-
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Piceoideae
Number of Species
135
1
27800
👆🏻