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. fraseri – Native to southwestern Virgina, western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee in the USA and it grows in a pyramidal shape to a height of 60’ feet with a spread of 20’ feet. The needles ½-1 inch long and are dark green with a silvery greenish white banded underside.  The 2-inch cylindrical cones are dark purple, turning brown as they ripen, and have downward turned bracts.  Cultivated in Europe as an ornamental.

Zones 6-9