Conifer
Dwarf Alberta spruce ‘Conica’
Picea laxa 'Conica'
A slow-growing evergreen conifer with a dense, regular cone. Small when bought, it can reach several metres over many years. Monitor moisture, spider mites and reversion shoots; constant clipping is unnecessary.
- Size
- 3–4 m high · 2–3 m wide
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Very hardy
- Seasonal form
- Evergreen
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Plan for size after decades: old specimens may reach about 3–4 m tall and 2–3 m wide. A small nursery plant does not remain a miniature.
- Choose sun or light partial shade, air circulation and well-drained, moderately moist soil. Avoid sites that become extremely hot and dry.
Why choose it
- The dense cone keeps a distinct outline without yearly shaping.
- Evergreen needles provide a lasting feature, including in winter.
Care
- Water during establishment and prolonged drought, while avoiding persistent waterlogging around the roots.
- Inspect needles and shoots, especially if they turn brown. Spider mites may be responsible, but colour alone is not enough for diagnosis.
- Unusually vigorous shoots with larger needles may be reversions. Remove confirmed reversions at their base, not normal pale new growth. Routine clipping of the cone is usually unnecessary.
Good to know
- Height after ten years is not the final size. Growth rate and dimensions depend on conditions and age.
- Picea glauca is the widespread species name; Kew accepts Picea laxa. Conica remains the same cultivar.