I think the correct name is actually Picea alcoquiana 'Dwarf Tigertail' but I'll check with our expert.

It's a old mistake, see older post. But the cv 'Dwarf Tigertail' are well a Picea jezoensis.I don't understand this mistake, it's very different species.

Foliage + cone Picea bicolor = alcoquiana.

Cone and foliage from a 50' specimen at "Biltmore Estate" which suggest "alcoquiana" if a recent vintage cone was available for inspection.

Yes, it's right.

Picea bicolor (alcoquiana) have a stonger cones like Picea abies and quadrangular needles. Picea jezoensis have a softs cones like Picea pungens and flat needles green and white.

Again.. Some people saying it's a jezoensis and some saying bicolor... Which is it really?I know Sara is a conifer expert and she says bicolor, and clement says jezoensis with some factual evidence.. I'm confused lol gardengal do u know??

The correct name now is Picea jezoensis 'Howell's Dwarf '

Picea bicolor and Picea alcoquiana are synonym. (=)

To clarify P. bicolor is a synonym of P. alcoquiana.

Picea alcoquiana

http://www.conifers.org/pi/Picea_alcoquiana.php

I know bi color is alcoquiana. I just call it bi color Cuz it's easier. What I want to know is, if tigers dwarf is a alcoquiana or a jezoensis

Correct cultivar name is 'Howell's Dwarf.'

http://conifersociety.org/conifers/conifer/picea/jezoensis/howells-dwarf/

So its a picea jezoensis afterall. Can someone explain to me then why the majority of nurseries and other sources say that this cultivar is a picea alcoquianas?

The answer is easy. That's the name that consumers are accustomed to buying. That's why growers are highly reluctant to keep up with nomenclature. Nurseries are responsible for growing and selling awesome plants. It takes a Conehead to keep the names and provenance straight.

I suppose proper nomenclature is an important thing, but for me what matters is how it looks in the garden. Gerten's, which is one of the larger nurseries in the U.S., has a large selection of this plant, which is surprising to me. Has this conifer become popular in the nursery trade? I'm smitten with that squat, flat topped habit.

Doesn't this spruce develop a central leader overtime though?

So anyone, can anyone tell that this is an alcoquiana spruce?