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blue conifer tree

Discover the unique beauty of the blue conifer tree, a stunning addition to any New Zealand garden. With their striking blue-green needles and elegant form, blue conifers bring year-round colour, texture, and structure to your landscape. Whether you’re seeking a statement specimen, a windbreak, or a low-maintenance evergreen that pops in contrast to lush green foliage, blue conifer trees offer an unbeatable combination of visual interest and hardiness. From small gardens to expansive rural properties, blue conifers are prized by gardeners and landscapers alike for their easy care and show-stopping style.

A Picea pungens 'Glauca' (Colorado Blue Spruce) tree.

Picea pungens Glauca

Picea pungens 'Glauca', commonly known as the Colorado Blue Spruce, is a blue coloured conifer that grows with a broad and open, pyramidal shape. The blue-grey needles on this evergreen are held densely on near-horizontal branches and give the tree a tiered appearance. It is a slow-growing tree and will eventually reach 20 m tall and 8 m wide. Picea pungens 'Glauca' is commonly grown as a colourful specimen in parks, used in an avenue planting, or grown where space affords.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Conifers
Height: 20.00 m
Spread: 8.00 m
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Parks, Screening, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Coastal, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' (Blue Atlas Cedar) tree with spectacular blue foliage.

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', also known as Blue Atlas Cedar, is a striking evergreen conifer ideal for New Zealand gardens. Its silvery-blue needles and bold, upright form make it a standout specimen or feature tree. Growing 8–12 m tall, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and suits parks, extensive gardens, and avenue plantings. Drought-tolerant once established and low-maintenance, it adds year-round colour, structure, and elegance to both formal and informal landscape designs.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Conifers
Height: 15.00 m
Spread: 10.00 m
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Parks, Screening, Specimen
Garden styles: Architectural, Coastal, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern
cupressus-blue-ice-4
Cupressus 'Blue Ice' (Blue Arizona Cypress)

Cupressus 'Blue Ice' is a striking evergreen conifer admired for its vibrant icy blue foliage and strong upright growth habit. This hardy tree...

From$82.92
Cedrus atlantica (Atlantic Cedar) tree.
Cedrus atlantica

Cedrus atlantica, commonly known as the Atlantic Cedar, is a large and stately tree. It bears blue-green, needle-like foliage held on horizontal...

From$270.40
cedrus-deodara-1
Cedrus deodara

Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar) is a magnificent evergreen conifer admired for its graceful pyramidal form, soft blue green needles, and gently weeping...

From$192.51
Podocarpus 'Matapouri Blue' hedge.
Podocarpus Matapouri Blue (Blue Tōtara)

Podocarpus ‘Matapouri Blue’, also known as Blue Totara, is a stunning New Zealand native tree prized for its striking blue-green foliage and tidy...

From$30.29
Large Jacaranda mimosifolia tree with blue flowers.
Jacaranda mimosifolia (Blue Jacaranda)

Jacaranda mimosifolia, commonly known as the Blue Jacaranda tree, is a tropical-looking tree that is widely planted because of its beautiful and...

From$323.65
phlebodium-blue-star-
Phlebodium aureum Blue Star (Blue Star Fern)

The Blue Star Fern features wavy leaves that are a blue-green colour. This popular indoor plant grows as a clump to about 30 cm tall and the same...

From$38.57
Pittosporum 'Wrinkled Blue' speciment tree.
Pittosporum 'Wrinkled Blue'

Pittosporum ‘Wrinkled Blue’ is an attractive, upright evergreen tree known for its distinctive blue-grey foliage and dense, columnar growth habit...

From$22.01
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Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress)

Taxodium distichum, commonly known as the Bald Cypress or Swamp Cypress, is a conifer that grows as an upright tree to about 30 m tall and 8 m wide...

From$387.55
Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter' plants with fine and elegant, blue foliage.
Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter', commonly known as Pinatoro or the NZ Daphne plant, is a mat-forming, NZ native, ground cover plant. It has small...

From$23.39
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Prostanthera 'Eddington Blue'

Prostanthera 'Eddington Blue' is a stunning evergreen shrub admired for its masses of vibrant blue mauve flowers and highly aromatic foliage. This...

From$27.53
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Eucalyptus Baby Blue (Silver Gum)

Eucalyptus 'Baby Blue' is a highly popular evergreen tree admired for its stunning silver blue foliage and strong ornamental appeal. The rounded...

From$408.85
Dacrydium cupressinum (Rimu) tree juvenile foliage.
Dacrydium cupressinum (Rimu Tree)

Dacrydium cupressinum, commonly known as Rimu or Red Pine, is an iconic and slow-growing tree. The juvenile form features drooping branches densely...

From$99.29
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Taxus baccata Fastigata

Taxus baccata Fastigiata, commonly known as the Irish Yes, is a conifer grown for its attractive foliage and slender form. This evergreen has a...

From$202.44
Large Juniperus 'Kaizuka' trees as a cluster.
Juniperus chinensis Kaizuka

Juniperus 'Kaizuka', commonly known as the Hollywood Juniper tree or Torulosa Juniper, is an upright conifer with an oriental style. It bears...

From$270.40
Liriope muscari 'Blue Skies' plant with blue flowers and green foliage in a garden.
Liriope 'Blue Skies'

Liriope 'Blue Skies' is a blue-flowering Liriope that forms a tidy clump and features strap-like, dark green leaves. Flower spikes rise above the...

From$14.50
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Sorbus aucuparia Scarlet King (Rowan Tree NZ)

Sorbus aucuparia Scarlet King is a variety of the commonly known, Mountain Ash, and is a small-sized, deciduous with impressive characteristics...

From$387.55
A Rosemary 'Blue Lagoon' shrub with blue flowers in a mixed planting.
Rosmarinus 'Blue Lagoon'

Rosmarinus ‘Blue Lagoon’ is a hardy, evergreen shrub prized for its aromatic foliage and vibrant deep blue flowers. Blooming from late winter through...

From$22.01
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Tree Fertiliser (Tree Fertiliser)

Using tree fertiliser results in plants having better quality foliage, more profuse flowering, stronger stems, and a much healthier and brighter...

From$13.40
An upright Rosemary 'Tuscan Blue' shrub with blue flowers in a Mediterranean themed garden.
Rosmarinus 'Tuscan Blue'

The 'Tuscan Blue' Rosemary is a fast-growing and upright variety that features petite, sky-blue flowers borne amidst the dark green leaves through...

From$22.01
Blueberry 'Powder Blue' blue berries with lush, green foliage.
Blueberry 'Powder Blue'

Blueberry 'Powder Blue' is a late season blueberry variety valued for its sweet flavour, firm berries, and extended harvest period. This reliable...

From$30.29
Stunning, dark blue flowers on Salvia 'Blue Angel].
Salvia 'Blue Angel'

Salvia 'Blue Angel' is a beautiful perennial known for its soft blue flower spikes that appear generously across summer and autumn in New Zealand...

From$27.53
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Pear Doyenne du Comice (Comice Pear Tree)

The Comice pear tree (Pyrus communis Doyenne du Comice) is regarded as having the best flavour of all the pear varieties. It bears green skinned...

From$340.69
magnolia-liliiflora-nigra-1
Magnolia liliiflora Nigra (Magnolia Tree Nigra)

Magnolia liliiflora Nigra, commonly known as Black Lily, is a stunning tree that bears masses of large and showy, purple flowers from late winter...

From$270.40
cedrela-sinensis-flamingo-7
Cedrela sinensis 'Flamingo' (Toon Tree)

Cedrela sinensis 'Flamingo' (Toon Tree) is a spectacular deciduous tree prized for its striking flushes of vibrant pink foliage that mature through...

From$28.91
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Fastigiata' trees with yellow foliage in autumn.
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Fastigiata' (Tulip Tree)

Liriodendron tulipifera fastigiata, also known as the Upright Tulip Tree, is a stunning deciduous tree admired for its narrow, columnar form. It...

From$515.35
Melia azedarach tree.
Melia azedarach (Bead Tree)

Melia azedarach, commonly known as Bead Tree, White Cedar or Persian Lilac, is a fast-growing deciduous tree admired for its feathery foliage and...

From$387.55
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Magnolia Deryk (Magnolia Tree Deryk)

Magnolia Deryk is a deciduous tree that bears masses of large and showy, dark red-purple flowers from late winter until early spring. The flowers are...

From$387.55
Guzmania conifera plants in a garden with orange flowers.
Guzmania conifera

Guzmania conifera is a bold and colourful tropical bromeliad admired for its bright orange-red, cone-shaped flower spike that rises from a central...

From$23.39
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Palm Tree Fertiliser (Palm Tree Fertiliser)

Choosing the correct Palm tree fertiliser is essential for producing better quality foliage, stronger fronds, and a much healthier and brighter...

From$13.40
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Acer platanoides Princeton Gold (Princeton Gold Maple Tree)

Acer platanoides Princeton Gold is a variety of the commonly known, Plane-Leaved Maple, and is a medium sized tree with fantastic foliage. The leaves...

From$349.95
Picea pungens Glauca

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Cedrus, Cupressus, and Jacaranda, or related Categories - Conifer Trees, Deciduous Conifers, and Indoor Plants.

Search blue conifer tree

What Is a Blue Conifer Tree?

A blue conifer tree is any coniferous (cone-bearing) tree or shrub that displays distinctive blue or blue-gray foliage. This unique colouring is most often seen in certain species and varieties of pines, spruces, and even native New Zealand podocarps. The most famous example is the classic Picea pungens Glauca, also known as Colorado Blue Spruce, valued worldwide for its silvery-blue needles and strong pyramidal shape. Other notable options include Podocarpus Matapouri Blue (Blue Tōtara), which is a blue-tinged New Zealand native, perfect for adding a Kiwi twist to your blue conifer planting.

Benefits of Planting Blue Conifer Trees

Choosing a blue conifer tree for your garden comes with a host of benefits. Their evergreen nature guarantees colour and coverage all year, making them ideal for windbreaks, privacy screens, or as impressive standalone specimens. The blue foliage brings cool tones into planting schemes, providing contrast against greens, golds, and burgundies. Blue conifers bloom in popularity in both formal and contemporary gardens, as well as coastal, alpine, and low-maintenance landscapes, thanks to their adaptability and tolerance for a variety of soil types.

Top Blue Conifer Tree Varieties in New Zealand

For those looking to complement their blue conifers with other blue-toned plants, adding options like Jacaranda mimosifolia (Blue Jacaranda) for its stunning flowers, or interesting foliage plants like Phlebodium aureum Blue Star (Blue Star Fern), creates depth and year-round visual appeal.

Caring for Your Blue Conifer Tree

Blue conifer trees generally prefer full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soils. Once established, they are drought-tolerant and low maintenance. Mulch annually to conserve moisture and discourage weeds, and water thoroughly during prolonged dry periods. Most blue conifers do not require much pruning, only the removal of any dead or damaged branches. As with any plant, always check the specific requirements of your chosen variety for best results.

Bring a touch of cool elegance and enduring structure to your garden with a blue conifer tree. Whether planted as a focal point or part of a mixed border, these trees make a bold and beautiful statement in New Zealand landscapes.


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