Colorado Blue Spruce vs Water Lily

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

Colorado Blue Spruce

Picea pungens

Pinaceae · trees

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Water Lily

Nymphaea spp.

Nymphaeaceae · aquatic

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Colorado Blue Spruce (Zones 2-7)

Water Lily (Zones 3-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–7

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Colorado Blue Spruce	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Picea pungens	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Pinaceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	trees	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Well-drained	Pond/Water garden
Height	60'	6"
Spread	20'	4'
Bloom Season	Spring	Summer
Bloom Color	Green	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Slow	Medium
Native Region	Rocky Mountains	Worldwide
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Colorado Blue Spruce

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Water Lily

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — 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.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

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 Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–7. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View Colorado Blue SpruceProfile →View Water LilyProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Colorado Blue Spruce and Water Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows in USDA zones 2-7, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 7.

Do Colorado Blue Spruce and Water Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Colorado Blue Spruce needs full sun and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Colorado Blue Spruce or Water Lily?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows taller at 60' compared to Water Lily at 6". Colorado Blue Spruce spreads 20' while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Colorado Blue Spruce and Water Lily deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Colorado Blue Spruce or Water Lily?

Colorado Blue Spruce has low maintenance while Water Lily has medium maintenance. Colorado Blue Spruce may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Colorado Blue Spruce	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Picea pungens	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Pinaceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	trees	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Well-drained	Pond/Water garden
Height	60'	6"
Spread	20'	4'
Bloom Season	Spring	Summer
Bloom Color	Green	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Slow	Medium
Native Region	Rocky Mountains	Worldwide
Maintenance	Low	Medium

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.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

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 Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–7. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Colorado Blue Spruce and Water Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows in USDA zones 2-7, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 3 through 7.

Do Colorado Blue Spruce and Water Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Colorado Blue Spruce needs full sun and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Colorado Blue Spruce or Water Lily?

Colorado Blue Spruce grows taller at 60' compared to Water Lily at 6". Colorado Blue Spruce spreads 20' while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Colorado Blue Spruce and Water Lily deer resistant?

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

Which is easier to maintain, Colorado Blue Spruce or Water Lily?

Colorado Blue Spruce has low maintenance while Water Lily has medium maintenance. Colorado Blue Spruce may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.