Plant shown doesn't fit the bill, should be darker and much more dwarf, congested. Cultivar said to be confused with 'Lombarts', itself represented by more than one form.

Jaro,

I think Bboy is on to something mine is very congested although making somewhat of a leader but only growing 1 or 2 centimetres a year.

Somewhere along the line it seems that it has been mislabeled.
Darren

Hi Jaro,

Don't worry. You have the correct plant. My original is well over 20 years old and about 6' (3m) tall. Most years the growth is very congested. Some years I get a longer shoot here and there. It tends to grow upright and is narrower than tall. It also appears to speed up a bit as it ages. The first 10 years or so it has to make it its mind as to what it wants to be. Then it puts up a short leader. Some years the leader can be robust (extra nutrients and water) and other years it will will be restricted.

Picea abies 'Lombarts' has thick needles also but can grow over 2' (60cm) per year. I saw a block of these at a nursery in Germany that were 30' (10m) tall and labeled as 'Pachyphylla'. So the two are confused in Europe. The growth tends to be rank with long terminal shoots.

Then also there is a Picea pungens 'Lucky Strike' found in Europe that is actually Picea abies 'Lombartsii' and adds a little to the confusion. The thick needles on the 'Lombarts' led to the misidentification of the species.

Bob

Ha! nothing will bring out the nursery owners like someone raising the possibility of a mis-labeling! Obviously in collectorland, true-to-nameness is the product we are all shelling out for.

Actually, I was mostly concerned about the plant's growth rate & habit -- and whether maybe I put it in the wrong spot, for its future size.... (might have to dig it up & put it somewhere else in a few years...)

But it is of course also nice to have some background info!

Thanks Bob & others for your comments.