Picea glauca 'Pixie Dust' Iseli®' - Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Extremely dense, compact and slow growing, producing soft yellow new growth to contrast the deep green beneath; ideal as a garden accent; needles are very sensitive to winter burn and may need winter protection in exposed locations

Height: 6 feet. Spread: 5 feet. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 4a.

Ornamental features

Pixie Dust Alberta Spruce is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has rich green evergreen foliage which emerges buttery yellow in spring. The needles remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape

Pixie Dust Alberta Spruce is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Accent, General Garden Use, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Pixie Dust Alberta Spruce will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.