Dwarf Alberta Spruce are widely planted in landscapes here in Utah. Its scientific name is Picea glauca 'Conica'. It is a sport of the white spruce, Picea glauca. As the Alberta Spruce matures, a part of the plant may revert to the white spruce, which spoils the conical form.. They are plagued by spider mites here, which make the needles turn brown and drop. One of the best ways to deal with this is washing the shrub with a hard stream of water on a regular basis.