Dwarf Alberta Spruce Picea laxa 'Conica'

The Dwarf White Spruce 'Conica' is a cultivar and is a small to medium-sized conifer evergreen dwarf shrub. This shrub is dense, compact, cone-shaped, grows 3 to 4 feet tall, and 1.5 feet wide after 10 years. After several decades, it will measure 10 to 13 feet tall and about 7 to 10 feet wide. It is grown for its soft, bright, green foliage and performs best in a cool environment.  The optimum setting is cold winters, cool summers, and good air circulation. The needles are bright, light green, and dense and encircle the stem. The needles, which are fragrant when crushed, have a white waxy coating. This cultivar rarely produces cones and is non-flowering. 

This natural dwarf was discovered in the wild in Alberta, Canada in 1904 by J.G. Jack and Alfred Rehder. Several other cultivars were derived from the 'Conica.' 

The genus name, Picea, is thought to be derived from the Latin word "pix" which means "pitch." This refers to the bark of this species that is sticky and resinous. The specific epithet, glauca, means "covered with a waxy bloom'' and refers to the white, waxy coating on the foliage. The cultivar name, 'Conica,' references this plant's tight, conical or pyramidal habit. 

The Dwarf White Spruce prefers moist, well-drained, loam, acidic to neutral soils in full sun. It is tolerant of wet sites, wind, heat, cold, drought, and partial shade. This plant needs to be protected from strong winds. It may be planted in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 6. It will not perform at its best in areas of high heat and humidity and is intolerant of air pollutants and salt spray. When planted in an area or location where airflow does not dry the plant, repeated infestations of mites can occur and will damage the plant.  These repeated infestations will lead to stem and needle death, making the plant unsightly. This plant can revert to its species form. If a prominent shoot with thicker stems and larger foliage appears, it should be pruned from the shrub. 

This cultivar can be grown as a container plant, or pruned to form an artistic topiary.  It also makes an excellent Christmas tree. It can be utilized in planters, in pairs by a porch entrance, along driveways or walk intersections, and in the center of beds. It has a distinctive form with its conical shape and a formal look. It is slow growing and will struggle to grow in the southeastern United States. 

Seasons of Interest:

Foliage: Year-round

Quick ID Hints:

• Small cone-shaped gymnosperm shrub
• Leaves are short, sword-shaped, and light green

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Although there are no serious problems with this plant, needle and stem rust, canker, trunk rot, and root rot may occur.  Some areas may experience yellow-headed spruce sawflies, European sawflies, mites, spruce bagworms, budworms, and eastern spruce beetle. Repeated mite infestations can cause serious harm to the plant. 

More information on Picea laxa.