A Distinctive Dwarf with Two-Tone Tiger-Tail Needles

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce (Picea bicolor 'Howell's Dwarf') is an unusual, eye-catching dwarf whose needles show green tops and silvery-white undersides, curving up around the stems for a striking tiger-tail look. Slow and irregular, it is offered as both a low spreading form and an upright standard, reaching roughly 3-5 feet. A real collector's specimen.

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce Plant Details

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Specimen Dwarf

Its two-tone tiger-tail foliage makes a standout focal point in featured beds and rock gardens.

Spreading or Upright Accent

Choose the spreading form for low texture or the standard for an upright accent.

Best Time to Plant Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce in Minnesota

Spring through early fall all work, but late August through mid-September is ideal, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes. Water deeply once a week the first season and mulch to hold moisture.

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Dwarf specimen and conifer collections

This slow, rounded dwarf tops out around 3–5 feet, making it a jewel for a mixed conifer bed or a special spot near a patio in Edina, Plymouth, or Minneapolis. The two-tone needles flash silvery-white underneath whenever a breeze stirs them.

Rock gardens and small beds

Its compact size and tidy habit suit rock gardens, small foundation beds, and the front of a border, where it adds evergreen structure without crowding its neighbors.

Low-maintenance foundation accent

Plant Howell's Dwarf near an entry or along a walk for year-round interest at eye level. It needs no shearing — its naturally neat form holds on its own.

Four-season winter interest

The distinctive two-tone foliage holds its show through five months of Minnesota winter, catching light and adding fine texture when the rest of the garden is dormant.

Best Time to Plant Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce in Minnesota

For evergreens, the ideal window is late August through mid-September, giving roots time to establish before the ground freezes and before winter wind can dry the needles. Spring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) is the second-best option. Avoid summer planting when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground and frost-heaving kill new roots.

How to Plant Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, the same depth as the ball. Heavy clay benefits from an even wider hole.
2. Check for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; don't create a pure-compost "container" the roots won't leave.
4. Spacing — 3–4 feet apart for a low grouping; single plants need little room.
5. Water basin — build a 3–4 inch ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove it before winter to avoid ice damage.
6. Mulch — 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood-chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate.

Watering Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches/month June–August)
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities)
• Give one deep watering in early December if fall was dry — evergreens lose moisture through their needles all winter

After Year One

Established plants only need supplemental water during droughts (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently — every 7–14 days during dry spells, soaking to 6–8 inches depth. Let natural rainfall do most of the work.

Will Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — it's reliably hardy through zone 4, well-suited to the Twin Cities metro (zone 4b–5a). Water deeply in late fall and keep the root zone mulched, especially in the first winter.

What makes the foliage "two-tone"?

Each needle is green on top and silvery-white underneath, so the whole plant shimmers as the branches move — the "tigertail" effect that makes this dwarf such a conversation piece.

Is it deer-resistant?

Strongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce — the stiff needles are unpalatable — making it dependable even in high-pressure deer suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.

How big does it get?

It stays small — about 3–5 feet tall and wide — and grows slowly, so it holds its place in a small bed or rock garden for many years.

You May Also Like

• Dwarf Alberta Spruce — a classic dense, cone-shaped dwarf evergreen for pots and small beds.
• Echiniformis Hedgehog Spruce — a tiny flat blue-green bun for rock gardens and troughs.
• Dwarf Black Spruce — a low blue-gray bun of a Minnesota-native spruce.
• Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae — a soft, ball-shaped dwarf arborvitae for low edging.

How Many Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce Do I Need?

This is a collector's specimen, not a hedging plant — most yards need exactly one, given a 5-foot circle where its two-tone foliage can be seen up close (near a patio, entry, or path). For a low grouping in a larger conifer bed, plant 3 spaced 3–4 feet apart (the body's own grouping spacing) and let the irregular forms knit into a textured composition. Growth is slow (3–6 inches a year), so buy the largest size you can — it will hold its spot for decades.

Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Fresh needles emerge in May, brightening the two-tone effect — new growth shows the silvery undersides most vividly.
• Summer: Every breeze flips the needles to flash silvery-white under green — the "tigertail" shimmer is at its best against summer-green neighbors.
• Fall: Holds its full two-tone color while deciduous plants drop; becomes the anchor of the emptying bed.
• Winter: Fully evergreen through zone 4 — the dense, irregular dome catches snow and keeps flashing silver in low winter light for five months when little else performs.

At a Glance

✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Echiniformis Hedgehog Spruce — the body's own pairing: a tiny flat blue-green bun for the foreground of the same rock garden.
• Dwarf Black Spruce — another body pick: a low blue-gray native spruce bun that contrasts with the tigertail's two-tone green.
• Honey Bun Mugo Pine — a soft green cushion mugo that repeats the dwarf-conifer scale in plain green, letting Howell's foliage stand out.
• Gregoryana Norway Spruce — a fine-textured deep-green cushion for a three-texture dwarf spruce collection.

Is Howell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce Right for Your Yard?

It thrives in full sun (6+ hours) and adaptable, well-drained clay-loam, stays a tidy 3–5 feet with no shearing, and deer leave it alone — perfect for rock gardens, entry beds, and conifer collections where its unusual foliage gets noticed. It's not a fit if you want fast screening or shade planting: it grows just inches a year and thins out without full sun.