Hello Rose,

Are you asking for us to deliver a tree to that specification? We are a group of volunteers who help homeowners with their questions about trees and plants -- either problem solve or provide recommendations.

Good-luck!

Hi,

Do you have any suggestions?

I was providing as much information about my soil and my spot as I could.

Basically what I want to know is there a suggestion about a small evergreen that I can plant in my small city lot?

My goal is to provide privacy so at least 6' tall, but 15' or more would be too tall. I grow native pollinator plants and also having birds in my yard is important to me. I like trees, but do not have room for them, so I have to go with shrubs. 

I have consulted a lot of resources and been out looking. I saw a spruce that I loved, but really, is there a spruce that is a shorter variety like the tag says?

And then, so many arborvitaes! How to choose.

A nursery marks a tag with a plant height, but when I look up that particular variety it often says it will get taller.

I was hoping that I could get some expert and/or experienced advice about a particular variety to shop for.

If you can advise me, thank you!, if not thank you anyway for your volunteer time.

Rose

Hello Rose,

Sorry for misunderstanding your original question. You've noted an interesting issue that I've wondered about for many years. When referencing the most reliable sources for information about the height and spread of a tree, that is advertised as a dwarf specimen of a much larger tree, we find that they actually can grow larger. Many, like Mugo pines will stay within the limits of a gardener's requirements as long as they are pruned. But evergreens are notoriously difficult to prune properly without causing irreparable damage.

Also, many dwarf varieties of a species like the spruce you admire can get as large as your source says but may take as many as 30 to 40 years to do so. So a very slow grower may still fit your needs. Unfortunately, I can't say which will be slow and which will not.

I have to point out that blue spruce varieties (if that's what you're thinking about) are mostly of the Colorado blue spruce species and those do not do well in our Minnesota climate. They may look good for a few years but will eventually contract one or both of the following fungal diseases and lose foliage and branches: Rhizosphaera needle cast and Cytospora canker.

I hope all this is of help. Good-luck!