Description

Abies- Fir

This mid to large evergreen shrubs and trees, makes them ideal for shurburn areas.  They prefer cool-cold climates such as Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America mountainous areas where they escape urban pollution and extreme temperatures although some varies expand into the tropics.  These fir’s has long narrow, needles that are distributed equally horizontal and laterally along the twig. Color differs mid to dark green often with grayish white bands underneath. Female cones grow erect on upper branches, which ripen over a year then release seeds.

They prefer sun moist soil or soil with good moisture retention but with good drainage, neutral to alkaline soil.  The only pruning needed to be done is to remove dead twigs to insure good circulation.

Prone to adelgids, bark beetles, bagworms and spruce budworms.  A wide variety of fungi cause needle blights and root rots.  Rust diseases are common.

 A. numidica – Algerian Fir – Native to the Kably region of Algerian, but dwarf varieties are available for garden use.  This tree grows 80’ feet tall and 20’ feet wide in a cone shape.  The needles are densely crowded on branchlets and are ¾ inch long and are flattened with broad blunt tips and are dark green with blue white banding on undersides. Cones are 4-7 inches long and are narrow ripening from deep green to dull brown.

Zones 6-9