Howell's Tiger Tale Bicolor Spruce

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce (Picea bicolor 'Howell's Dwarf Tigertail')

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce adds rare, cool-toned color and evergreen structure without the scale of a full-size spruce. Its layered needles create a two-tone effect that reads bright and textured, even from a distance, which helps mixed beds feel more finished year-round. The spreading habit makes it especially useful for wide spaces, slopes, and conifer groupings where you want coverage and contrast. With the right placement, it becomes a long-lived backbone plant that keeps your landscape looking intentional through winter.

Distinctive Features

This cultivar is prized for its bicolor needles, typically green on top with a silver-blue underside, plus a yellow-green tint on the most exposed surfaces that adds extra depth in sun. When young it often forms a low, spreading, flat-topped shrub, and over time it may develop a central leader and become more irregularly pyramidal unless you remove upright shoots. Reddish-purple cones can appear on established plants, adding a subtle seasonal accent before maturing to brown. Mature size is commonly in the range of about 6 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide, with the option to keep it lower and broader by managing a central leader.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun is best for strongest color, with part shade tolerated.
• Soil: Moist, well-drained soil is ideal, with acidic to neutral conditions preferred.
• Water: Keep evenly moist during establishment, then water during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Generally reliable in zones 5 to 7.
• Habit: Spreading, flat-topped when young, with potential to become irregularly pyramidal if a leader develops.
• Mature Size: Commonly about 6 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide over time.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use the two-tone needles and broad form as a standout evergreen feature in a prominent bed or rock garden setting.
• Slope Planting: Plant on banks to provide evergreen coverage and a more stable, finished look through winter.
• Conifer Grouping: Pair with deep green and gold conifers to amplify the silver-blue contrast and add layered texture.
• Border Anchor: Place at bed ends to keep planting lines defined and consistent in every season.
• Foundation Planting: Use where you want evergreen structure with a wider, lower profile that complements horizontal lines.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply after planting and maintain consistent moisture through the first growing season.
• Mulching: Apply mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature, keeping mulch off the stems.
• Pruning: Remove dead or damaged growth, and selectively prune upright shoots if you want to maintain a flatter, spreading form.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in early spring only if growth is weak, using a slow-release fertilizer for evergreens.
• Monitoring: Check for spruce pests during hot, dry periods and address issues early to protect needle quality.
• Drainage: Improve drainage if needed, since consistently wet soil can reduce long-term performance.

Why Choose Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce?

• Two-Tone Needles: Bicolor foliage delivers silver-blue contrast with a subtle yellow-green highlight in sun.
• Broad Coverage: A spreading habit fills space and keeps beds looking finished year-round.
• Form Control: Can be kept low and wide, or allowed to develop a taller, more tree-like outline.
• Four-Season Structure: Evergreen texture and color provide dependable winter presence.
• Low Maintenance: Minimal shaping is needed once it is established in a well-drained site.

If you want an uncommon spruce that brings both color complexity and lasting structure, Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce is a strong choice. Give it sun, good drainage, and steady moisture while it establishes, then decide whether you prefer a flatter spread or a taller leader. Either way, it adds a refined conifer texture that elevates the landscape in every season.