C'mon, admit it! Even though it's as common as books in a library, on some very basic level, you like dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica'). Oh sure, you'll deny it. Just like you'll deny listening to Barry Manilow on your way to work this morning (I saw the CD on the front seat of your car). But don't be too hard on yourself. Besides, dwarf Alberta spruce remains one of the most requested and best-selling conifers in the nursery trade. But why are we drawn to a plant that has been labeled, overused, pedestrian, trite, and a "mite magnet?"

Perhaps it's the unmistakable upright-pyramidal growth habit that grabs our attention. Or maybe it's the allure of a plant that promises not to grow much bigger than 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide. We like well-behaved plants that don't outgrow their site and are comfortable with their "touchable" human scale. But for me, dwarf Alberta spruce is the perfect exclamation point. As the eye scans the jumble of colors, shapes, and textures in the landscape, it can't help but stop to admire the compact and rigidly formal cone of this most popular garden conifer.

Dwarf Alberta spruce was discovered in 1904 in the northern portion of the Rocky Mountains near Lake Louise (Alberta, Canada) by John Jack and Alfred Rehder of the Arnold Arboretum. As the story goes, instead of waiting on the platform for their train that was running behind schedule, they did what most of us would do. They wandered off to check out the local flora, and to their amazement, stumbled across some naturally-occurring dwarf white spruce that resembled witches' brooms. Jack and Rehder must have known they'd discovered something unique, but probably never imagined the impact their serendipitous finding would have on gardening 100 years later. So, unencumbered by governmental regulations (there weren't any back then), they spirited the plants back to the Arnold and our landscapes haven't been the same since.

Unfortunately, dwarf Alberta spruce has more than its share of problems. Sooner or later, most specimens will be plagued by an infestation of spider mites, suffer unsightly winter injury, or languish under the oppressive heat and drought common to summers in the Midwest. And if those challenges weren't enough to dissuade you, the sight of an isolated, vigorously-growing branch that has magically reverted back to the non-dwarf form of white spruce, might prompt you to consider plant euthanasia.

But there's something about dwarf Alberta spruce that makes us forget the bad and embrace the good. And there's plenty of good to be found at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum. For instance, have you seen the robust and imposing specimen on the north side (midway down the hill) of the Heartland Collection of Garden Conifers? Or, the exquisite dwarf Alberta spruce forest that greets visitors entering the collection from the east? And if you like your dwarf white spruce on the very small and slow-growing side, you'll surely enjoy discovering selections like 'Conica Baby', 'Ed Hurle', 'Elf', 'Gnome', and 'Little Globe'.

Perhaps you've tried growing dwarf Alberta spruce in the past with disappointing results, but feel the urge to try again. I can't say that I blame you. I've planted and failed at least three times in my yard. And with that said, I'm not sure I'm the one to be offering advice. But if I were to try again, I'd look for a protected site (eastern exposure, courtyard, alcove, etc.) and I'd keep the garden hose at the ready. During extended periods of dry weather, a forceful stream of water applied to the foliage at least once a week can help keep spider mite populations in check.

You know, I think I might just try my hand again with dwarf Alberta spruce. I've got the perfect spot, a brand new garden hose, and most importantly, a very understanding wife. Wish me luck.

About the author: Dr. Jeffery Iles presently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He holds advanced degrees from Penn State University and Iowa State University. Among many awards and honors, Dr. Iles is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association. He has authored or co-authored more than twenty journal articles in such journals as HortTechnology, Journal of Environmental Horticulture, Journal of Arboriculture, and HortScience. Research projects Dr. Iles is currently involved in include Landscape Plant Evaluation, Invasive Landscape Plants, and Landscape Plant Usage. The Bickelhaupt Arboretum is fortunate to have Dr. Iles on its Board of Directors. <P> <center> <HR size=3 width=450>

Other Picea glauca in the Bickelhaupt Arboretum collection.