This large coniferous tree has an upright trunk with thin reddish-gray loose scaly bark and ascending branches that form a narrow conical habit. It has blue-green needle-like leaves and the bright scarlet female flowers are followed by brown cones. 

Hardiness zones 9 to 11 

Picea engelmannii is naturally found in North America from the northern Rockies in British Columbia extending to Oregon in the southern Rockies and Arizona growing at an altitude of 500m to 4,000m (1,500 to 12,000ft) in pure stands or with other conifers.

It prefers on well drained, fertile moist loamy soils in an open sunny position and is frost and snow tolerant but drought tender. 

The Engelmann Spruce is grown for its habit and its leaves. It is planted in parks and large gardens, botanical collections and in alpine woodlands as a specimen or in group plantings. It establishing in 4 to 7 years and is suitable for coastal or mountainous regions and is used for a skyline effect. The timber is used for poles and fuel. ID 2139

Note:
At higher altitudes the growth habit is stunted forming a prostrate shrub and the tree is slow growing but long lived up to 500 years.

Picea (pi-SEE-ah) engelmannii (en-gel-MAN-ee-eye)

Pinaceae (py-NAY-see-ee)
Larches, spruces, pines, firs, hemlocks and cedars