Hello. Can someone tell me what this may be? Hopefully it's some sort of dwarf tree that doesn't get too big. Thanks!

It's a Picea abies/Spruce. It will grow big over time.

There were three of them in front of my front steps when we bought the house 35 years ago. They kept growing. No amount of trimming would keep them in check. Shaping them left dead spots exposed. I finally got rid of them and planted yews that do not mind shaping instead.

Thanks so much.

Or dwarf Alberta spruce?

Picea abies do grow large, 40+ ft, but will not grow that tightly. They are much more loose in growth, even if they are trimmed. There are dwarf mutations of Picea abies that grow that tight, but upright forms are very very rare, and if you could find it, would cost $200-300 for a 2-3ft specimen (and that would have been before COVID!).

Dwarf Alberta spruce are common in nurseries and stay short (6-8ft in your climate, 5ft in mine). They are naturally dwarf with tight growth like that. It's a Dwarf Alberta spruce.

Thank you all. Yes much too big for me.

sooby said: Or dwarf Alberta spruce?

• Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Conica')
• Uploaded by Anne

That's the one. I just forgot the exact variety when I posted my response.

tsouzee said: Thank you all. Yes much too big for me.

Which is too big, the Picea abies, the dwarf Picea glauca var. albertiana, or both?