Colorado Blue Spruce

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Market Value | $17,000

This is not your standard bonsai. It doesn’t follow the rules, and it doesn’t conform to convention—but its character is undeniable. From its creeping roots, sourced from the legendary “fin” made famous by Jerry Morris and carried forward by Todd Schlafer, to its defiant trunk scarred and marked by time, this tree embodies resilience. Its heavy bark, worn and weathered, holds a vitality that commands attention.

Even the apex defies expectation, sourced not from the highest structural point, breaking traditional bonsai rules. Yet in that very defiance, the tree tells its story—of struggle, survival, and triumph. Every scar, twist, and contour is a testament to durability and the raw beauty of a life lived in the wild.

It stands alone as a rugged model of the western United States, a miniature landscape captured in a single tree. Its artistry is not in perfection, but in its honesty: a tree that is unique, powerful, and unapologetically itself, ready to continue its journey with an owner who values character over convention.

Species | Picea pungens

Estimated Age | 185 years

Time in Training | 3 years

Collector | Todd Schlafer

Origin Location | Rocky Mountains

Ceramic | Horst Heinzlreiter

Original Design | Jason Neilsen

Weight | 47 lbs

Dimensions | 32" L x 34" W x 37" H