New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx in Bronx County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Colonel Montgomery's Spruce
All spruces of the cultivar 'Montgomery' are clones of this mother tree.
The Ornamental Conifers at NYBG originated with a gift from Colonel Robert H. Montgomery (1872-1953). A dedicated plant collector, Montgomery amassed hundreds of conifers from all over the world at his estate in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Between 1945 and 1947, Montgomery donated 200 rare and unusual conifers to NYBG. At a dedication ceremony for this collection in 1949, this spruce tree was named in Montgomery's honor.
Picea pungens 'Montgomery' is an extremely slow-growing, dwarf cultivar of Colorado blue spruce. It has become one of the most popular dwarf conifers in the world. By definition, all plants bearing this name are genetic clones of this mother tree. Offspring available at nurseries or growing in other gardens have been cloned by propagating cuttings or grafts from this plant or one of its descendants.
Erected by New York Botanical Garden.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.
Location. 40° 51.369′ N, 73° 52.597′ W. Marker is
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Historic Landscape (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Sidney Waxman's Conifers (about 400 feet away); American Elm: A Survival Story (about 600 feet away); Metasequoia: Living Fossil (about 700 feet away); Judy and Michael Steinhardt Maple Collection (about 700 feet away); Beauty and Utility (approx. 0.2 miles away); Japanese Maples (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Conservation Success Story
Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
