The aromatic green needles are about 3/4-inches long. The tree has a tight, densely-packed growth habit that gives dwarf Alberta spruce trees a “fuzzy” look.
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How to Grow and Care for the Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

Is there a difference between Alberta spruce and dwarf Alberta spruce?

Discover Dwarf Alberta Spruce



Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’) has a shape like a miniature Christmas tree. Bright green needles demand little care to look their best, and a slow growth rate makes this spruce a go-to evergreen for containers. Dwarf Alberta spruce grows just 2 to 4 inches a year.

How big does an Alberta spruce get?

Alberta spruce trees (Picea glauca Conica) are small dwarf trees that are characterized by their vibrant green, tight, dense foliage, which gives the trees a slightly “fuzzy” appearance. They are evergreen conifers that grow to a maximum of 4 to 6 feet in height.

Can you trim dwarf Alberta spruce trees?

The trees can get rather wide (up to 8 feet), and it is difficult to keep them narrow. Trim back the new growth that appears on the side branches each year. By doing this, you may keep them from getting much wider than they are now. Avoid pruning back into old wood that has no green needles on it.

How much space does a dwarf Alberta spruce need?

The Dwarf Alberta Spruce grows to be six to eight feet. To ensure the health of the plant, spacing should be 4-5 feet, center on center.

Can you keep a Dwarf Alberta Spruce small?

Cutting Back Dwarf Spruce: How To Prune Dwarf Spruce Trees. Dwarf spruce trees, despite their name, do not stay especially small. They don’t reach heights of several stories like their cousins, but they will easily reach 8 feet (2.5 m.), which is more than some homeowners and gardeners bargain for when they plant them.

How fast does Alberta Spruce grow?

2-4 inches per year

OVERVIEW. Dwarf Alberta spruce trees may eventually reach 12 feet in height, but only over a long period of time (growing just 2-4 inches per year). They have a classic Christmas tree shape. The green needles have a tight, densely-packed growth habit that gives dwarf Alberta spruce trees a fuzzy look.

Can Dwarf Alberta Spruce be shaped?

The dwarf Alberta spruce is an evergreen conifer with a classic pyramidal Christmas tree shape that rarely exceeds 13 feet.



How to Grow and Care for the Dwarf Alberta Spruce.

What is the smallest spruce tree?

The ‘Conica’ spruce (Picea glauca albertiana ‘Conica’) is a popular cultivar that stays quite small, at just 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. True to its name, this dwarf evergreen has a conical shape that it maintains without intervention. Another prized feature is the bright lime green color on its spring growth.

Does Dwarf Alberta Spruce have deep roots?

Spruce trees in general don’t have invasive roots, dwarf Alberta spruce even less. They tend to be very compact, and the will most likely not damage the patio. The only way they might is if they don’t have enough root room, if for instance, the soil is very shallow and you water the patio to wash it a lot.

What grows well with Alberta Spruce?

We recommend planting it with some other cold-hardy evergreens with great texture for a unique rock garden appeal. For instance, the Gold Mop False Cypress really shines alongside it. They both have a slow-growth habit, dynamite texture, and effortless elegance.

Can Dwarf Alberta Spruce survive winter?

Dwarf Alberta spruce, hardy in zones 2 to 6, but subject to winter burn whether grown in ground or in planters. I have seen these plants survive the winter in above ground planters in sheltered areas. You may want to provide added insulation to increase winter survival.

Why do Dwarf Alberta Spruce turn brown?

Winter sunburn and sucking pests are the main reasons why Dwarf Alberta Spruce turns brown. To fix the discoloration, wrap Dwarf Alberta Spruce in burlap over the winter and mulch around the trunk. Also, hose the pests down with water and spray the needles with an aqueous solution of horticultural oil.

What kills dwarf Alberta spruce?

spruce spider mites

Most commonly, dwarf Alberta spruce fall victim to spruce spider mites. These tiny yet extremely destructive relatives of spiders can quickly kill a tree. Since they’re so tiny, mites are almost impossible to see. To check for an infestation, come spring, head out to the plant with a piece of white paper.

How do you protect Alberta spruce in winter?

To protect the Dwarf Alberta Spruce in winter, wrap it in a burlap that keeps out the sun. Also, water the tree well in the fall and mulch the area around it. In general Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a very hardy plant. It can survive the winter from zone 2 through 7.

Do dwarf Alberta spruce drop needles?

The dwarf Alberta spruce tree (Picea glauca Conica) is a popular plant but is not without its problems. It is common for homeowners who have been enjoying the plant for a few years to notice, all of a sudden, that their tree is dropping needles (often after they have turned brown or yellow).

How do you dig up a dwarf Alberta spruce?

When removing the tree, make sure you get the entire root ball of the tree. Dig a hole that is approximately 2 to 3 times as wide as the root ball and as deep. No need to add any additional soil as you want to encourage the tree to grow in the native soil. You can some compost in the soil if it has poor drainage.

How much sun does an Alberta spruce need?

Keep it in a sheltered area with filtered sunlight or morning light and afternoon shade. Give it about as many days in this transitional spot as it spent indoors before you move it into full sun. Dwarf Alberta spruces will grow in full sun to partial shade. Plant it in well-drained, consistently moist soil.

Will needles grow back on Alberta spruce?

If you notice your dwarf Alberta spruce brown on one side or it develops large dead areas, this is a symptom of a serious problem. Luckily, dwarf Alberta spruce is fairly resilient and will often recover with proper care. It’s a cold-hardy perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 8.

Is there a dwarf blue spruce?

One of the most common cultivars is the dwarf blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Globosa’). This attractive, slow-growing conifer has many attributes that make it an outstanding addition to any landscape or garden.

How do I get rid of spider mites on my Alberta spruce?

To see if mites reappear and spray again after seven to ten days use horticultural oils like Sun spray bulk or scale aside during the warm months to control actively growing mites.

Will Alberta spruce recover from spider mites?

If it is mite damage, the news isn’t any better. Mites are pretty destructive. They especially like the dwarf Alberta spruce mini-trees that are very popular. Once mites brown out enough needles to kill branches, spruce usually never recover.

What does a spruce spider mite look like?

Spruce spider mites are small, 0.5 mm (1/50 inch), but can be seen with a hand lens. The young are pale green when they first hatch but become very dark green to dark brown as they age. Adults have salmon-pink body-spines and legs. The young have only 6 legs but adults have 8.

How do you keep spider mites away?

Preventing Spider Mite Infestation



The best way to keep spider mites away is to keep your plants consistently watered during dry weather. Not only will healthy plants be better able to fend off attacks, but spider mites tend to avoid moist conditions.

What smells do spider mites hate?

Peppermint or rosemary extract in a misting spray could also do the trick. Spider mites hate the strong odor. Hose down your plants with water with high pressure if your plants can take it, as dust really encourages spider mites.

What kills mites instantly?

Sprays and aerosols containing syngergized pyrethrins should kill mites immediately on contact, though the treatment will only remain effective for up to a few hours. Insecticide sprays containing permethrin or bifenthrin are effective against many mites and should retain their killing properties for several weeks.