Picea engelmannii 'Compacta' is a dwarf, upright, compact, pyramidal selection of Engelmann spruce with short, thin, blue-gray needles. According to Bob Fincham, this cultivar is a dwarf, conical, blue form that grows up to 4 inches (10 cm) per year and is similar in form to Picea pungens 'Montgomery' but with the foliage of engelmannii. After 10 years, a mature specimen will stand 5 feet (1.6 m) tall and 3 feet (90 cm) wide.
The origin of this cultivar is unknown. It is a very old cultivar, likely originating in Europe in the 1920s.