Dwarf shrubs

Are you looking for an evergreen that can live on your property line without invading your neighbor’s yard? There is a wide selection of evergreens under 4 feet that can give you the look you want, the protection from the wind or a good backdrop.

Norway spruce, or Picea abies, has several different cultivated evergreens for smaller spaces or to plant in groups in a larger landscape. One of the most popular since it was introduced from Europe in 1838 is the Pygmy Norway spruce. ‘Clanbrassiliana’ is one of the oldest forms. This evergreen will reach 4 feet in maturity and be compact with a slightly rounded top.

Norway spruce are particularly hardy trees that can grow in Zones 2-8. There is another cultivar called Picea abies ‘Acrocona’. In early spring, it is stunning when it produces multiple red cones. How did this spruce come into cultivation? It was found as a witch’s broom on a mature Picea. According to the American Conifer Society, a witch’s broom is a diseased or mutated mass of dense, deformed twigs and foliage forming a bird’s nest-like structure in a tree or shrub. Many of these structures bring us colorful and attractive new introductions. In the case of ‘Acrocona,’ this cultivar grows about 2-3 inches a year, creating a tree that is 1 foot tall by 2 feet wide. It can grow in full sun or part shade in Zone 4.

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