Picea abies 'Beissneri' is a dwarf, compact selectioni of Norway spruce with short, thick, contorted branches, very large foliar buds; and short, sharp, stiff, thick, radially arranged needles. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 18 inches (45 cm) tall and 2.5 feet (75 cm) wide, an annual growth rate of 2 to 3 inches (5 - 7.5 cm).
This is a very old cultivar, seen in many old collections and arboreta. Murray Hornibrook first described the plant in 1939 in his book, Dwarf and Slow-growing Conifers. Despite being of unknown origin, it is clearly named in honor of German dendrologist and horticulturalist, Ludwig Beissner.
