USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-8a  Find Your Zone

Plant Type:  Coniferous Evergreen Tree

Height at Maturity:  5-8' depending on pruning

Width at Maturity:  1-2' at base depending on pruning
Spacing:  Best as specimen or use 2 to frame an entrance

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Maintenance / Care:  Very Low

The Dwarf Alberta Spruce Arrowhead Topiary can be grown in the ground or in containers and is ideal for use in landscape beds and home foundation plantings as an accent specimen, or use two to frame an entrance. Its smaller size and slow growth rate lend well to use in smaller garden spaces. A fine addition to topiary gardens, formal gardens, conifer gardens, and the Xeriscape (low water needs when grown in the ground and established).

The Dwarf Alberta Spruce is easy to grow in a damp to moist but well-drained soil of average fertility. As with so many other conifers, constantly soggy or wet soils can be problematic; leading to root rot or other harmful plant diseases. So make sure to plant this one in well-drained soil, whether in the ground or pots. Choose a container with a drainage hole(s) and use a quality potting soil or potting mix, or a 50/50 mix thereof. It grows best in full sun; however, in Zones 7b and 8a in the south, it will prefer some shade or filtered sun during the middle of the afternoon. Once established, water needs are quite low when growing in the ground. In pots, soil moisture must be monitored more closely, especially during summer. When the top two inches of soil is dry, provide water. Trim after new growth has fully emerged in spring. At this time, trim up to half the length of the new growth off. 

Note: In Zones 7b and 8a, the Alberta Spruce does better in the ground than in pots so that its roots are not exposed to the hot air temperatures. It would also prefer some shade or filtered sun in the afternoon hours in these zones.

Average Trimming Per Year:  One trimming a year after new growth fully emerges in spring should be ample. 

See:  How To Trim A Topiary Plant

Note: For helpful advice from our experts, click on the Planting & Care tab above on desktop monitors or below on mobile devices.

Tip: Spider mites are known to be a rare but possible pest of Dwarf Alberta Spruce. The spider mites will crawl onto the plant from the ground, begin feeding, and then build visible webs. If small fine textured webs are present, or brown patches of foliage are seen, check for spider mites. To do so, place a white sheet of paper below the foliage while tapping the plant with your hand to knock off the spider mites. Don't worry, spider mites won't bite! These tiny red-colored mites will drop onto the white paper and scurry back and forth. If you see spider mites present, spray the entire plant with a steady jet of water from the garden hose. Then spray Neem Oil, Malathion, or another insecticide labeled for eradicating spider mites. If not eradicated, spider mites can damage and eventually kill a plant.    

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