Picea abies 39echiniformis39 is an excellent dwarf spruce for oriental style and contemporary minimalist gardens if planted in groups surrounded by gravel it is also perfect for adding greenery to a rockery or alpine garden another planting option for this conifer is for it to be planted in lines along the front of borders similar to box hedging but more informal and no time intensive pruning required it has dark45green evergreen foliage and is a slow growing and compact plant tha