Colorado Blue Spruce vs Fountain Grass

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Colorado Blue Spruce

Picea pungens

Pinaceae · trees

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides

Poaceae · grasses

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Colorado Blue Spruce (Zones 2-7)

Fountain Grass (Zones 5-9)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 5–7

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Colorado Blue Spruce	Fountain Grass
Scientific Name	Picea pungens	Pennisetum alopecuroides
Family	Pinaceae	Poaceae
Category	trees	grasses
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained
Height	60'	4'
Spread	20'	3'
Bloom Season	Spring	Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	Green	Pink, Tan
Growth Rate	Slow	Fast
Native Region	Rocky Mountains	East Asia, Australia
Maintenance	Low	Low

Special Traits

Colorado Blue Spruce

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Fountain Grass

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Colorado Blue Spruce

✓Needs full sun for best blue color.
✓Maintain lower branches for best appearance.
✓Watch for cytospora canker and spider mites.
✓Mulch well.

Fountain Grass

✓Cut back to 6 inches in late winter before new growth.
✓Divide every 3-4 years.
✓Leave seed heads for winter interest.
✓Drought tolerant once established.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Colorado Blue Spruce if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–7.

Choose Fountain Grass if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–7. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View Colorado Blue SpruceProfile →View Fountain GrassProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass grow in the same hardiness zone?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows in USDA zones 2-7, while Fountain Grass grows in zones 5-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 7.

Do Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass have the same sun and water needs?

Colorado Blue Spruce needs full sun and medium water, while Fountain Grass needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Colorado Blue Spruce or Fountain Grass?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows taller at 60' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. Colorado Blue Spruce spreads 20' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass deer resistant?

Yes, both Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Colorado Blue Spruce or Fountain Grass?

Both Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.

Explore More Data Tools

For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Colorado Blue Spruce	Fountain Grass
Scientific Name	Picea pungens	Pennisetum alopecuroides
Family	Pinaceae	Poaceae
Category	trees	grasses
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained
Height	60'	4'
Spread	20'	3'
Bloom Season	Spring	Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	Green	Pink, Tan
Growth Rate	Slow	Fast
Native Region	Rocky Mountains	East Asia, Australia
Maintenance	Low	Low

Care Tips

Colorado Blue Spruce

✓Needs full sun for best blue color.
✓Maintain lower branches for best appearance.
✓Watch for cytospora canker and spider mites.
✓Mulch well.

Fountain Grass

✓Cut back to 6 inches in late winter before new growth.
✓Divide every 3-4 years.
✓Leave seed heads for winter interest.
✓Drought tolerant once established.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Colorado Blue Spruce if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–7.

Choose Fountain Grass if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 5–9.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 5–7. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass grow in the same hardiness zone?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows in USDA zones 2-7, while Fountain Grass grows in zones 5-9. Both plants can grow together in zones 5 through 7.

Do Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass have the same sun and water needs?

Colorado Blue Spruce needs full sun and medium water, while Fountain Grass needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Colorado Blue Spruce or Fountain Grass?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows taller at 60' compared to Fountain Grass at 4'. Colorado Blue Spruce spreads 20' while Fountain Grass spreads 3'.

Are Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass deer resistant?

Yes, both Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Colorado Blue Spruce or Fountain Grass?

Both Colorado Blue Spruce and Fountain Grass have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.