Dwarf Alberta spruce, a conifer with extremely tiny light green needles, grows into a perfectly symmetrical cone over time to 12 feet tall x 8 feet wide (very old plants). Plant this spruce in full sun and with enough space around it to keep neighboring vegetation from shading out some of the branches and destroying the symmetry.

The straight species is used for Christmas trees, for essential oils, and as a source of medicinal salves and drinks. The genus name is derived from the Latin name for pitch, a sugar rich gum that oozes out at injury sites.