PlantFiles: Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Picea glauca 'Conica'

I planted one of these about 1' tall from Walmart in 2007, later in Spring. So it basically just sat there that year since it had already budded out. In 2008 and 09 it grew to be 24" so it was growing much faster than expected. But in 2010 it put on an amazing 9" and actually budded out 4 different times between April and August! I measured it last fall and it was 33". This year it is already in its second budding and 37" tall, so it's already put on 4" this year and shows no sign of stopping.
I read that some dwarf Albertas revert back to regular Alberta Spruce but that is not the case here because when that happens the branches grow longer and it won't have the tight packed needles. Mine still has very tightly packed needles and branchings. It's just a fast grower compared to all the reports of 1 - 2" a year. Last year it even out performed my Noway Spruces !

This tree is amazing. I bought this Fall of 2010 to plant in a container and overwinter it on my 3rd story patio (as a lil' 5ft Christmas tree). It got down to -30 last winter and I hadn't protected it at all and this spring it is covered with fresh green growth! My patio faces north so it only gets about 3-4 hours of direct sunlight a day (a few hours in the morning and a few in the evening). Great plant for a container :)

Didn't expect this to do well here in Sofia, Bulgaria. It has doubled in size in just two years and, of course, it hasn't suffered from cold. Heat hasn't harmed it either. It grows in full sun in a container on the roof of my garage. We are presumably in zone 6b, 2300 feet AMSL.

This plant is a wonderful plant. It transplants very easily and adds a little formality to the garden. I had a minor problem with bagworms last summer but I picked them off and the plant is recovering nicely.

I like this little guy. Mine has grown some since I purchased it in spring/early summer. Nice additional, almost a must for a garden IMO.

I just purchased these at Home Depot a couple of days ago. I live in Zone 8b. They look great at the end of my driveway. I just hope they can survive the heat but it is good to see other Georgians and a tropical climate such as Puerto Rico trying it as well.

This is a good foundation shrub in my area as long as you watch for and control spider mites, which can lead to dying off and ugly brown patches. Spraying it down with a strong jet of water every week or two does the job in discouraging the mites and helps provide adequate water as well.

Smaller specimens also do well in containers due to slow growth.

Alberta Spruce is frequently sold in Fairbanks, Alaska supercenters and home centers - but it is hardy only in the most sheltered of microclimates. I've seen many people (including myself) plant these beauties in the interior of Alaska only to see them freeze out. I suspect the purchasing people buy for Anchorage - not realizing that Fairbanks and the interior are a lot colder. Avoid this if you see temps below -40F. Otherwise, a wonderful plant!

If you like a plant that is just a blob of green all year.

Tolerates dry, alkaline, clay soil. My 10 year old plant is at a small 5'. It's counterpart nearby, however, a few years ago, began to show a growth from the rootstock that had been dormant for years, which eventually overpowered the graft. I cut off the graft to reveal a shapely Picea glauca. I have to admit that I was pleased that this pudgy thing is susceptable to roostock reversions.

I think the plant is overused in the face of many desirable new selections.

There are two of these framing a shed door on my place. They were here when we bought the place. I decorate them at Christmas time every year--they are perfect for that. There's something a little fairy-tale ish about them, and they aren't what I would have chosen myself, but they are easy and look fine. My one reservation: dog pee browns them up real fast. My dogs likes to mark them, and we have to keep him away.

I bought 3 of these today to plant in sunny backyard central. My first day rating is positive - they are so cute! But I'm a tad worried about their fate in my hands for two reasons:
1) I'm putting them into spots recently vacated by a maple and 2 dogwoods that passed on to greener pastures. Sigh. Not yet sure why they croaked so fast...? Really hope I'm not sentencing the new guys to death row!
2) I am a bit concerned that our summers in my part of Georgia might be too hot. Glad to see I'm not the only one trying them out in the warmer zones. My fingers are crossed. I'd love to decorate these cool little trees at Christmas time!

I live in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I Purchased this tree in Virginia and brought it to Puerto Rico and I thought it was going to die but to my surprise in doing excellent in 4 months that I have it here. Actually it looks more dense now and with more live. The tree is doing excellent and I have it in front of my house where it gets direct sun from the tropical island I life in for 5 hours a day when the sun changes direction. I do pour water twice a day to maintain a humid soil. I am in zone 11.

I live in Zone 10 (Southern California) and would like to hear about anyones experiences with the Dwarf Alberta Spruce in this area.

The only problem with this plant (at least here in the Uk) is that it, along with a number of other spruces is very prone to attack by two agents. One is a tiny species of Aphid and the other (in hot dry summers) is a spider mite. Both can defoliate the plant over a period of months without attention.

I love these evergreens. The size and shape is perfect, it's a must have in my garden.

Very soft-textured in comparison to most other evergreens. Requires virtually no trimming at all; maintains its shape naturally. Grows only an inch-or-two a year, so it's a good choice for planting near buildings where other shrubs or small trees may grow too large.

This plant is a must for every winter garden. Slow growing, these trees take 10-15 years to get over 6'. Ideal for containers or as a specimen in rock gardens, I have used these in several landscaping projects over the past 4 years and have yet to lose a plant.They seem to prefer semi-moist rich soil.