Perfect for a short-term, table-top Christmas tree, this conifer may not come as a perfect pyramid, but it looks charming, especially when adorned with decorations, lights or tinsel. Try to keep it in a cool, bright room and move it outside as soon as possible after Christmas, where you can enjoy it for the rest of the year.

As Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Conica' matures it will also produce oval, green summer cones that age to brown. A slow-growing, broadly conical, evergreen conifer with beautiful, blue tinged green, needle-like leaves, it is an excellent specimen tree for a small, sunny garden. Best in moist, well-drained, neutral to acid soil or ericaceous compost if you wish to keep it in a pot.