Over 50 species of fir are found in nature, which occupy the geographical areas of Central and Eastern Europe, the northern regions of Central Asia, and are widespread in Siberia and the Far East. In ornamental gardening, the 10 most popular representatives of the fir genus are used, a description of which is given in the article.
General characteristics
Most representatives of the genus Fir (Abies) share the following morphological and ecological characteristics:
- large trees with a crown in the form of a regular cone
- in many species the bark is smooth and light gray in color
- The root system is of a core structure, going deep into the interior. The largest mass of fibrous roots is located in the upper layers of the soil
At first glance, fir resembles spruce in appearance. They are especially similar to each other from afar. Coniferous trees are similar not only in appearance, but also in name. In Old Church Slavonic, spruce is called “Yalina”, and fir is called “Yalitsa”. But there are still significant differences between them:
- most fir species have smooth gray trunks with thin bark and numerous resinous nodules
- the branches form a crown of a regular conical shape, narrower and neater than that of spruce
- the needles at the ends are blunt with white longitudinal stripes
Fir is easy to distinguish when it bears fruit.. Spruce cones hang down, and fir “cobs” stick straight up. When the seeds ripen, they immediately fall out. It is impossible to pick up a cone filled with grains from the ground. If they are needed for sowing, they are looked for below or cut off along with the cones before they fall.
Most types of fir need fertile, well-aerated, moist soils.
Decorative varieties are extremely sensitive to an excess of harmful substances in the air, especially carbon dioxide and car exhaust smoke. This is the reason why, in urban environments, they are much less common than other conifers.
In landscape gardening, 9 types are most often used, as well as their breeding varieties, which are similar to each other in living conditions.
Location
- Firs are shade-tolerant plants, but grow better with sufficient lighting. They need a lot of light in the first five years after planting. Optimal conditions are sun in the morning and light partial shade in the afternoon.
- Refers to wind-resistant plants, although it is better to protect them from severe turbulence. It will withstand a draft, but will suffer and lose its decorative effect.
- Requires high humidity.
- Plants are demanding on soil conditions.
Soils
The lifespan of most cultivated species and varieties is several decades. They require fertile, rich soil with good drainage to thrive. They do not tolerate stagnant moisture at all. Even with short-term flooding, plants quickly die.
Timing and features of planting
The optimal time in spring is April. Another deadline is the end of August, beginning of September. Although, trees with a lump of earth can be planted at any time of the year when the earth is dug.
Seedlings take root better when they are 5 to 10 years old.
The size of the planting hole should be twice the size of the coma, but not less than 60 cm in diameter and 60 cm in depth. When planting, the plant is positioned so that the root collar is flush with the edge of the hole.
The soil mixture for planting fir consists of the following components:
- medium loam – 2 hours
- leaf soil or humus - 3 hours
- bottom peat – 1 hour
- coarse river sand – 1 hour
When planting, complete mineral fertilizer nitroammofoska is applied at the rate of 250 - 300 g in each hole, as well as 10 kg of forest soil or sawdust.
If fir is planted on heavy natural soils, drainage at the bottom of the hole is required. It is formed from crushed stone or crushed brick, in a layer of 15 - 20 cm, and only after that the pit is filled with nutritious soil.
Care
Fertilizing is carried out 2-3 years after planting. Typically, a universal fertilizer for coniferous plants is used - 150 g per 1 m2.
Water the fir as needed, when the top layer of soil dries out, at the rate of 15-20 liters per tree. In the hot season, the crown is sprinkled once every two weeks.
Fir favors loosening the soil and removing weeds. Recently, this process has successfully replaced mulching. It is better to use forest litter, bark, wood chips, cones, and sawdust of coniferous trees as a protective material.
Thanks to the natural shape of the crown, There is no need to trim the fir. with the exception of dry, broken and diseased branches.
Most ornamental varieties are frost-resistant plants that do not need winter protection. But in the first years of life, it is better to cover young plants to protect them from low temperatures. For this purpose, a modern material called “Spunbond” is used.
Varieties of spunbond have different names assigned by manufacturers in different countries. The following assortment is offered for sale: Agrofibre, Agrotex, Agril, Lutrasil, AgroSUF, etc.
Any of the listed types is a white non-woven fabric that allows air and moisture to pass through well, retains heat, increasing the temperature inside the shelter from 2 to 9 degrees compared to the environment.
In areas with cold climates, the material is often used to protect heat-loving fir varieties from severe frosts.
Read also:
- The importance of superphosphate as a mineral fertilizer in the care of tomatoes, potatoes, seedlings and other crops. Ways to use it in the garden (Photo & Video) + Reviews
Description of species and varieties
Of the several dozen natural species in ornamental gardening, the following botanical fir species are most often used:
- European or white
- Balsamic
- Single color
- Korean
- Mountain or subalpine
- Caucasian or Norman
- Tall or tall
- Spanish
- Arnold
Some species have breeding varieties of different sizes, shapes and colors. Read more about those that are successfully used for landscaping parks, squares and personal plots.
European - Abies alba
Botanical synonyms of the species - P. white or P. comb. In nature, it is most often found in most of Europe.
Average life expectancy is 350 – 400 years. There are many cases of long-lived fir trees, whose age is more than 700 years.
Average height - 50 m.
Crown diameter 7 - 8 m.
The bark is smooth, light gray.
Needles, 2.5 cm long, dark green in color. The underside of the plate has two longitudinal white stripes.
The size of the cones is 15 - 16 cm.
The species is distinguished by good winter hardiness, which gains strength as the tree matures. In particularly cold winters, young plants freeze over. For this reason, they need shelter.
Severely suffers in conditions of increased air pollution, even to the point of complete death. It is not found in mass plantings; it is easier to find the species in a botanical garden or in a well-groomed area where a professional works.
Balsamic – Abies balsamea
The natural habitat of the species is the North American continent in Canada and the USA.
The average duration of growth is 150-200 years.
Among the species, fir is considered a relatively short tree that grows up to 25 m.
It has a thick, cone-shaped crown.
The color of the smooth bark is pale gray. The needles, characteristic of fir, are mild and dark green on top. On the reverse side of the plate are two thin whitish stripes.
When young cones appear, their color is dark purple, but when ripe it changes to light brown.
The fruits reach such sizes - length - 70 cm, diameter - 3 cm.
Frost resistance is superior to other types of fir.
The following selection forms are used in landscape design:
The genus includes approximately 50 species, distributed in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.
Under natural conditions, fir grows in the mountainous zones of the temperate and subtropical zones of Eastern and Central Europe, the Far East, Siberia, East and Central Asia (China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, the Himalayas), North America and North Africa.
Description of fir
In the Western Hemisphere, fir is distributed from Alaska to Guatemala and from Labrador to the mountainous regions of North Carolina. Fir mainly grows in cool, humid climates. The tallest tree in Russia is the fir ().
Fir is a powerful monoecious, evergreen tree with a cone-shaped crown. Fir has a powerful root system, taprooted, going deep into the soil. Fir has resinous buds or no resin at all. Needles of two types.
On reproductive shoots, with a pointed apex, on vegetative shoots - with a slightly dimpled or rounded apex. Fir needles live for about 8-15 years, but where the climate is colder, the needles remain on the tree longer.
In most representatives, the needles are single, arranged spirally, due to the twisting of the petioles on the lateral branches, flat or comb-like in one plane. At the base, the leaves are expanded into a rounded disk, which retains a trace on the shoot after falling, sometimes slightly protruding.
The cones are cylindrical, sessile, ovoid, ripen in the first year and disintegrate in autumn or winter, releasing the seeds. The core of the cones remains on the branches for a long time. Along the upper edge are seed scales, cut off or broadly rounded, narrowed downward, with a wedge-shaped base, without a navel.
The seeds are triangular-wedge-shaped or obovate-wedge-shaped, with resinous cavities, very difficult to separate from the wing surrounding the seed; the wing is fan-shaped or rectangular.
Fir begins to bloom in the 60-65th year of life, earlier in open places. Male fir cones are located on the top of last year's shoots, female cones are red-violet or green, vertically erect, located singly in the upper part of the crown near the ends of last year's shoots. The fir grows very slowly for the first ten years, then picks up speed. The maximum age of fir is about 300-500 years.
Fir is a very decorative forest species, which not only provides construction timber, but is also common in landscape construction. Fir is very decorative and takes root well outside its natural habitat. Fir balsam and valuable resins are obtained from the bark of some types of fir, fir oil is obtained from branches and needles, and fir paws are also valued. Essential oil is made from them. In addition to essential oil, foot contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and is also a raw material for its production.
Types and varieties of fir
Balsam fir
It is one of the main forest-forming species in North America, where it grows in the coniferous zone. In the mountains, balsam fir rises to the forest line, but most often grows in lowlands and near drains along with species of thuja, hemlock, spruce, pine, and deciduous trees.
The height of the tree is about 15-25 m and the trunk diameter is 0.8 m. Balsam fir is a very decorative species, thanks to the large number of young dark purple cones.
The cones are gray-brown, oval-cylindrical, very resinous, from 5 to 10 cm long and 2 cm thick. They crumble in October.
The seeds are brown with a purple tint, their size is 5-8 mm. This type of fir begins to bear fruit at 20-30 years of age. This type of fir is shade-tolerant. Prefers loamy, moist soils. Lives about 150-200 years.
White fir (European)
This type of fir grows at an altitude of about 350-1500 m above sea level, forms pure forests, and also mixed with spruce and beech. The tree is about 30-60 m high, the trunk is up to 2 m in diameter. The needles are blunt, flat, shiny, dark green above, with white stripes below, about 2-3 cm long. It stays on the shoots for 6-9 years.
Female cones are green, single, vertical, formed close to the ends of last year's shoots, male cones are purple or yellow, sitting alone in the axils of the needles of last year's shoots. White fir does not tolerate dry and swampy soil. Likes to grow in moist, fertile soils. The tree lives up to 300-400 years.
The wood of this fir is white, without resin ducts, very resistant to rot, can be easily dried, sawn, split, planed and veneered, thanks to which it is widely used in construction.
Great fir
Great fir grows naturally on the Pacific coast of North America. The crown of this type of fir is cone-shaped, in open areas it may start from the ground. The bark is thin, dark brown, with age its thickness becomes 6-8 cm and begins to crack.
Despite its decorative value, great fir is used very rarely in landscaping due to the requirements for growing conditions and climate. The tree is from 35 to 90 m high and has a trunk diameter of 70-120 cm. The shape of the needles is dark green and has a tetrahedral shape. Prefers moderately moist, fertile soils. Life expectancy is about 250-300 years.
Fir Vicha
Wicha fir grows naturally in the mountains of Japan, forming mixed or pure stands with other types of fir and spruce at an altitude of about 1300-1900 m above sea level. It is a slender tree with a pyramidal crown. It grows very quickly, reaching more than 10 meters in height at the age of 30.
The needles are soft, about 2.5 cm in length, dark green, shiny on top, with white stripes below. In windy weather this gives the tree a silvery-white hue.
The cones are about 7 cm long, violet-purple when young, brown when mature, the scales are broadly cylindrical, about 6-7 cm long. Seeds with a short wing, yellowish. Likes to grow in fertile soils. Lives about 200-300 years.
Spanish fir
Recent research by scientists related to Spanish fir has proven that this tree appeared before the Ice Age. Today they are trying to determine how it survived.
The crown is cone-shaped, wide, low-growing, the branches are located horizontally. The bark is smooth, dark gray, and becomes cracked towards maturity. Young shoots are bare, almost very resinous. The branches are hard and covered with very hard, prickly needles of a silver-blue hue.
Korean fir
Korean fir grows in the mountains on the Korean Peninsula at an altitude of 100-1900 m above sea level. This type of fir is distinguished by its rough bark. Its young yellowish shoots are covered with fine hairs. Then they take on a red tint.
Korean fir is filled with charm. Already in her youth she begins to bear fruit in abundance. Excellent upward-pointing violet-purple cones against the background of green needles give the tree an amazing appearance. Due to its decorative properties, Korean fir is widely cultivated throughout the world.
Its high quality wood is used for the pulp and paper industry.
Nordmann fir (Caucasian)
A tree with a narrow pyramidal crown, with slightly raised branches and a straight trunk. The bark of the trunk is gray, smooth, with small elliptical marks from flying branches and cracks.
Young shoots are yellow-green, pubescent, then become brownish-brown and bare. Its buds do not contain resin and are pubescent. Caucasian fir is wind-resistant due to its developed root system.
Demanding on air humidity, loves fresh loams with an admixture of black soil. However, it can grow on calcareous soils. This type of fir is durable, living up to 500-800 years.
Fir one color
The native fir is North America. Plantings of this species are usually located on shady slopes, as well as along rivers. A large tree with a cone-shaped crown.
The branches are located horizontally. The height of the tree is about 35-50 m, the diameter of the trunk is 1.5 m. The needles are narrow, soft, about 5-8 m long, and smell of lemon. On both sides it is matte bluish green.
Fruits every 3 years. The cones are dark purple, oval-cylindrical, about 8-15 cm long. It grows very slowly, at 5 years its height reaches 1 meter, and at 10 years 2 meters. Grows well in sandy, dry soils.
This fir is very decorative. Gardeners are especially popular with forms with silver and bluish needles, which decorate any garden plot.
Under natural conditions, equal scale fir grows in the central regions of Japan. The tree is about 25-40 meters high, crown diameter is 1-5 meters. The crown is pyramidal, with smooth brown or gray branches.
The needles are about 3 cm long and about 1-3 cm wide, bluish in color below and dark green above.
Male cones are 7 mm wide, 1.5 cm long, and ovoid in shape. Female cones are dark purple and cylindrical. The cones are brown, 3 cm wide and 10 cm long. Lives for about 300 years.
Grows in the mountains of North America. Fir is best cultivated in areas with a humid, warm climate. It is a valuable decorative species and is used in landscape design.
Looks very impressive in group and single plantings. The needles are matte blue-green above, with white stripes below. Stays on shoots for 9 years. Lives about 300 years.
Location
Firs are shade-tolerant, but develop best in good light. Wind resistant. Demanding on air humidity. Very sensitive to air pollution by gases and smoke.
Soil for fir
All firs are demanding in terms of soil moisture, richness and drainage.
Fir propagation
Fir propagates by seeds, which are harvested at the beginning of cone ripening. You need to sow in autumn or spring. Under normal conditions, seeds are stored for up to one year. Reproduction is also possible by annual cuttings. The roots of the cuttings form after 8-9 months.
Partners
Looks great with other large trees (pseudotsuga, pine, spruce, larch). Low-growing species are planted with low conifers and ground cover perennials.
Family: pine (Pinaceae).
Motherland
In nature, fir trees are found in the mountainous regions of the temperate and subtropical zones of Central and Eastern Europe, Siberia, the Far East, Central and Eastern Asia (Korea Peninsula, China, Japan, the Himalayas), North Africa and North America. In the Western Hemisphere, firs are distributed from Alaska and the Rocky Mountains to Guatemala in the Pacific part of the continent and from Labrador to the mountains of North Carolina in the Atlantic part. In general, firs prefer cool, humid climates.
Form: conifer tree.
Description
Firs are powerful coniferous evergreen trees with a beautiful cone-shaped crown starting from the base of the trunk and gray bark (in old trees, cracks usually form on the bark). Not all of the 40 types of fir are suitable for use in garden design, since fir is one of the tallest plants in the world (reaches 60 m in height). Fir is considered one of the most noble plants of the ‘Coniferous’ class; it is valued for its symmetrical pyramidal shape and especially beautiful needles. For the most part, fir needles are flat, very fragrant, usually dark green with two white stripes below. Some types of fir have gray or blue-green needles on both sides. Fir flowers are monoecious, inconspicuous. Fir cones are located at the top of the tree, they develop over several decades, and, unlike pine, do not fall whole to the ground, but become woody and gradually fall off after the scales mature (there are a small number of fir species that are decorated with cones at an early age). The fir root system is taprooted and powerful. Firs are good because they are able to retain lower branches for a long time.
(A. balsamea). A tree from 15 to 25 m tall with a symmetrical, dense, low-hanging, pin-shaped crown. The bark of young plants is ash-gray, then reddish-brown; young shoots of balsam fir are green, then also red-brown. The branches are collected in whorls and arranged in tiers. The needles are shiny, dark green, very fragrant; young buds are dark purple. Balsam fir is shade-tolerant, frost-resistant, and grows quickly. The lower branches of balsam fir take root easily. Balsam fir grows in North America and Canada (the most common fir in North America). Balsam fir has a distinct balsamic pine needle aroma. Balsam fir has several decorative garden forms, but they are not very common in landscaping in Russia.
Balsam fir ‘Nana’ . Squat, cushion-shaped, dwarf shrub from 0.3 to 0.5 m high and 0.8 m wide, slow-growing. Fir ‘Nana’ is winter-hardy and wind-resistant; sensitive to high temperatures and drought. Balsam fir ‘Nana’ has short, dark green, very dense needles with a pleasant aroma.
(A. sibirica). Tree up to 30 m tall with a narrow, cone-shaped crown. The branches are thin and drooping. Siberian fir needles are dark green, soft, soft, narrow, shiny on top; remains on the tree for more than 10 years. The lower branches of the Siberian fir descend to the very ground, sometimes taking root. The bark is smooth, gray. The cylindrical cones are small, 5-8 cm, and acquire a bluish tint before maturity. Siberian fir is winter-hardy; in mild climates it can be damaged by early spring burns. Siberian fir is rarely found in landscaping. It grows in nature only in Siberia.
(A. koreana). Tree from 5 to 8 (15) m tall and from 2 to 3 m wide with a wide cone-shaped crown. Korean fir branches are arranged in layers. Young plants have ash-gray bark with a purple tint; The shoots are yellowish, also with a purple tint. Korean fir needles are thick, dark green, hard, and silvery underneath. Korean fir bears fruit abundantly at a young age; Numerous purple cones form on the plant. Korean fir cones are erect, cylindrical, 4-7 cm long. Korean fir is winter-hardy. It occurs naturally in the mountainous regions of the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Has dwarf forms.
Nordmann fir
, or Caucasian fir
(also called Nordmannian fir
) (A. nordmanniana). A tree from 45 to 60 m tall and from 5 to 8 m wide (trunk diameter - 2 m) with a narrow cone-shaped and densely branched, low-slung crown. The bark of young plants is shiny, light brown or yellowish; later becomes gray. Young shoots are shiny, red or reddish brown; later whitish-gray. The needles of Caucasian fir are dark green, silvery underneath, and dense. The plant is very durable; growing quickly. Caucasian fir is rarely found in landscaping due to its very low frost resistance. In nature, Caucasian fir grows in the western part of the Caucasus and in Turkey.
Fir one color (A. concolor). Tree up to 60 m tall and from 4 to 6-8 m wide (trunk diameter - 1.8 m) with a cone-shaped crown and ash-gray bark. The branches are very dense in young plants and relatively sparse in old ones, arranged in layers. The needles are single-colored, coloring from intense blue to gray-green; When blooming, the needles are silver-gray, in winter they are yellowish-gray. The root system ranges from superficial to deep. Single-color fir is the most drought-resistant of all types of fir. Single-color fir prefers fresh, loamy or sandy soils, however, it grows well on any fertile substrates, even somewhat saline ones. Single-color fir is durable and most resistant to environmental conditions; tolerates transplantation, but is more light-loving. Single-color fir is winter-hardy, but can freeze over in severe winters; The needles of single-colored fir turn brown as the temperature drops. The plant looks good both in solitaire and group plantings (especially with larch). The homeland of single-colored fir is the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico; The plant rarely forms pure stands and is more often found in a mixture with other species.
White or European fir (A. alba). Tree up to 65 m tall (trunk diameter - 1.5 m) with a cone-shaped crown. The bark is whitish-gray, often with a reddish tint. Young shoots of white fir are green or light brown, later grayish-brown. The needles are dark green, silvery underneath. White fir grows well in moist, loose, loamy or sandy soils. Young trees grow very slowly. Growing white fir is only possible in sufficiently protected areas. The homeland of European fir is Central and Southern Europe.
White fir or bud scale (A. nephrolepis). Tree up to 20 (less often 30) m tall with a dense cone-shaped crown. The bark of young trees is very light, almost white, and later darkens; young shoots are yellowish. White fir is winter-hardy and shade-tolerant; growing quickly. White fir is distinguished by the contrast of a dark crown and light bark, drooping branches and decorative cones. Whitebark fir or bud scale fir is the most common type of fir in the Russian Far East; also found in China and Korea.
Whole-leaved fir (A. holophylla). The plant reaches a height of 45-60 m (trunk diameter - 2 m) with a dense, wide-cone-shaped crown (the crown of old trees is flat-topped) and prickly needles. The bark of whole-leaved fir is dark, gray-brown, almost black; This type of fir is often called ‘black fir’. The shoots of young plants are shiny, yellowish-gray. Young whole-leaved firs grow slowly, then very quickly. Whole-leaved fir is frost-resistant, shade-tolerant, durable, and wind-resistant. Propagated by seeds and grafting. In nature, whole-leaved fir grows in the mountains, in mixed forests of Primorye, Northern China, and Korea.
Fraser fir
(A. fraseri). Tree from 12 to 25 m tall with a graceful conical or columnar crown. The bark of Fraser fir is grayish, reddish in older trees; shoots are yellowish-gray. The needles are short, dark green, shiny. Mature Fraser fir cones are purple-brown. Fraser fir is very winter-hardy; often used in plantings with pine and larch; The young plants are very beautiful. Fraser fir is found naturally in the mountains of the southeastern United States; grows in pure stands and in mixed forests together with red spruce, yellow birch and other species.
Subalpine fir (A. lasiocarpa). Tree from 15 to 40 m tall with a dense cone-shaped crown. The bark of subalpine fir is silver-gray (in old plants it is ash-gray or brown). The needles are matte, bluish-green above, shiny below; lasts up to 9 years. The root system of subalpine fir is superficial; the plant can be damaged by strong winds. Subalpine fir is winter-hardy; grows slowly at a young age. Tolerates temporary excess moisture and can tolerate poor soils, but develops well only on fertile substrates. In nature, subalpine fir is found in North America - from Alaska to Oregon.
Arizona fir (A. arizonica). Tree up to 15 m tall with whitish-cream bark. Arizona fir needles are bluish. Arizona fir is close to subalpine fir, from which it differs in smaller size. This type of fir is very frost-resistant and shade-tolerant. Arizona blue fir is decorative with its needles and bark.
Growing conditions
Firs are shade-tolerant, but only in good light they acquire a typical crown shape. Shading is necessary for young plants. Thanks to a very powerful, deep root system, fir trees are wind-resistant. Fir is a moisture-loving plant that prefers cool places (however, there are species that are quite resistant to elevated temperatures); firs are very sensitive to air pollution, which significantly hinders their planting in cities. Firs are demanding regarding soil fertility; they prefer sufficiently moist (but not waterlogged), drained substrates.
Application
Firs are very decorative, lush, elegant plants, so they will always look good in a summer cottage. Fir trees are used in group and alley plantings, unclipped plantings, and plantings near water bodies. Dwarf fir is suitable for - rock gardens and rockeries; plants are used in combination with other low conifers and perennials. The plants go well with white-trunked birches, maples, and various shrubs; tall trees - larch.
Fir trees are rarely trimmed, as they do not result in active branching. Fir is formed by removing the central buds of lateral shoots in the fall.
Fir trees should not be used as winter shelter for other plants, since through their dense needles other plants will not receive enough sunlight.
Care
Fir care consists mainly of watering: 2-3 times per season at the rate of 15-20 liters per plant. During dry periods, fir needs to be sprayed 2 times a week. It is advisable to fertilize the fir 2-3 years after planting (in the spring). Young plantings need to be loosened and mulched, and weeds removed. Mulch the tree trunk area with sawdust, wood chips or peat (5-8 cm layer). In the spring, dry branches are removed from the fir. The fir is not pruned.
Adult fir trees do not need fertilizer. Young fir trees in the spring (after the snow melts) are fed with complex mineral fertilizers.
Fir transplantation is carried out in early spring before buds open or in autumn. In this case, deepening of the root collar is not allowed. Fir can easily be replanted at a young age. Adult specimens take root poorly. After planting, abundant watering is required, and during spring planting, spraying is recommended.
As a rule, firs are frost-resistant, but young plantings must be covered for the winter (with spruce branches, for example), as they may suffer from late spring frosts. In spring, abundant watering is desirable to ensure uniform awakening of plants.
Reproduction
Fir trees reproduce by seeds and vegetatively (cuttings, layering, grafting). Fir is sown in spring and autumn with stratified seeds. For the first 6-10 years, fir trees grow slowly, then the growth rate increases. Only freshly collected seeds are suitable for sowing.
Fir is planted at a distance of 2.5 to 5 m. The best time for planting fir is April and the end of August-September.
Varietal varieties of fir, when propagated by seeds, weakly repeat the characteristic characteristics of their parents, so cuttings or layering are used for their propagation.
Cuttings root well only from young varietal specimens. Fir cuttings are carried out in the spring before (or at the very beginning) the awakening of the buds. You can also take fir cuttings in the summer after the new shoots have hardened. Rooting of fir cuttings occurs at a temperature of 20-23 degrees.
Reproduction of fir by horizontal layering does not guarantee preservation of the conical shape. In most cases, when fir is propagated by layering, lopsided or creeping plants grow. Fir rooting occurs within 1-2 years.
Diseases and pests
Possible diseases of fir are rot, hermes.
Popular varieties
Varieties of single-color fir
‘Violacea’. A tree 6 to 8 m high with a wide cone-shaped crown with large, whitish-blue needles. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, grafting. It grows faster than the species form, but is less winter-hardy.
‘Compacta’. Fir ‘Compacta’ is a dwarf shrub with unevenly spread branches and blue needles.
Varieties of subalpine fir
‘Compacta’. Dwarf shrub up to 1.5 m tall with a wide-conical crown. The branches of the 'Compact' fir are dense and strongly branched. The color of the needles is silver-blue. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. Fir ‘Compacta’ is suitable for growing in rocky gardens - alpine hills and rockeries; in containers.
'Argentea'(with silver needles), 'Glauca'(with a pyramidal crown, steel or blue needles).
Korean fir varieties 'Blue Standard'(with cones darker than those of the species form), ‘Brevifolia’, 'Piccolo', 'Silberzwerg'(short, slow-growing fir with silver needles, rounded crown and short shoots).
Shapes of balsam fir gray (glauca) - with bluish needles; silver (argentea) - with white needles at the ends; variegated (variegata) - with yellow-variegated needles; columnar (columnaris); prostrate (prostrata) - a dwarf form, with branches spread above the ground.
Fir seedlings can be purchased at a garden center or ordered online.
You can also learn about how to grow fir and how to care for fir from the Internet.
Fir (Abies) the ancient Latin name of the genus is abh (i.e. to abound), which is apparently associated with strong branching and leafing of the branches. There are about 50 species of fir, common in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Firs are large, sometimes huge, reaching up to 60 m in height and 2 m in trunk diameter, monoecious evergreen trees, with a beautiful cone-shaped crown. The trunk is straight, with gray bark. The conical crown begins almost at the ground. The root system is taprooted, powerful, and goes deep into the soil.
Fir needles are flat, soft, with white stripes at the bottom, arranged spirally on the shoots, quite wide (in some species up to 3 mm), which is a distinctive feature of fir. Another characteristic feature of this genus is the upright cones, which ripen in the first year and disintegrate on the trees to release the seeds. Most species of Fir do not tolerate air pollution at all.
Fir is an unusually beautiful decorative tree with a clear pyramidal silhouette, perfect for single plantings. Excellent in park alleys, great for creating living walls.
Types of Fir, photos and descriptions of growth and preference for growing conditions:
Abies alba (white fir) 
White fir is a tall coniferous tree with a cone-shaped crown, an expressive trunk and branches arranged in whorls. By the age of 30 it reaches 15-18 m in height. The needles are dark green, flat, shiny. In youth it is shade-loving and demanding of moisture and soil. For good development, it requires sufficiently deep, loose, moist, fertile, loamy or sandy loam soils. It does not tolerate dry air and soil well, and does not grow well in marshy soils. White fir is sensitive to air pollution. Can be used in parks, but only in areas with appropriate conditions. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies alba (white fir) "Pyramidalis" 
Variety "Pyramidalis" with a regular cone-shaped crown. Initially very slow growing, after 30 years it reaches up to 5 m in height. The branches are directed at an upward angle. The needles are dark green and shiny. Abies alba "Pyramidalis" grows best in humid climates. Sensitive to frosty dry winds and early frosts. Recommended for planting near houses, in protected places. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies Arnoldiana (Arnold fir) "Jan Pawel ll" 
Arnold fir "Jan Pawel ll" is a fast-growing coniferous tree, cone-shaped, growing up to 10 m high at the age of 30. The branches are laid slightly at an angle, in regular circles. The needles are wide, shiny, greenish-yellow in color, white below, like chalk. Abies Arnoldiana "Jan Pawel ll" needs fertile and moist soils. Recommended for planting in parks and large gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies balsamea (Balsam fir) "Nana" 
The dwarf bush is round in shape, at the age of 10 years it reaches up to 0.5 m in height and approximately the same in diameter. The needles are short, dark green, and placed radially along the shoots. Needs moist, fertile soil. Recommended for rocky gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies balsamea (balsam fir) "Piccolo" 
A small compact bush, round in shape, reaching a height of about 0.3 m in 10 years and a similar diameter. The needles are short with blunt tips. Needs fairly fertile and moist soil. Recommended for alpine mountains and container compositions. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) 
A tall, fast-growing, delightful tree with a regular conical crown. The branches are located whorled and horizontal, the lower branches are lowered to the ground. At the age of 30 years it reaches about 10-12 m in height, the size of an adult tree is 20-25 (40) m in height. At home in California there are specimens up to 60 m high, 7-9 (10) m wide, trunk girth up to 3 m. Annual growth in height, in the first 10 years about 35-55 cm and 15 cm wide, then slower, lives up to 500 years. The needles are unusually long, up to 8 cm long and 2.5 mm. wide, gray-bluish-green on both sides, located asymmetrically, comb-like, sometimes crescent-shaped, soft with the smell of lemon, preserved on the tree for up to 8-10 years. The buds are green to purple at first and light brown when ripe. The root system is shallow or deep, depending on the soil. Light-loving, shade-tolerant. It develops optimally in deep, fresh, fertile, acidic or slightly alkaline, well-drained sandy-clayey soils, and grows well even in deep, dry sandy soils. Avoids clay and gley soils, like no other fir is sensitive to waterlogging. Tolerates heat, drought and insufficient air humidity, the most drought-resistant and frost-resistant fir. A distinctive feature is the endurance of urban air pollution. The species is undemanding to the soil and the environment, suitable for large gardens, urban plantings, parks, in single and group loose plantings. Winter hardiness zone 4. Has decorative forms.
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Argentea" 
A beautiful silver coniferous tree with a regular cone shape. It grows quickly, reaching 10-12 m in height after 30 years. The needles are long, soft, silver-blue. Grows well even in poor soils. Frost-resistant, drought-resistant and little sensitive to air pollution. Recommended for use in parks, gardens, and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Compacta" 
A dwarf variety with a compact but irregular wide-cone-shaped crown, at the age of 30 years about 2-3 m in height. The needles are shorter than those of the species, grayish-blue. It is undemanding to soil and moisture. Recommended for single plantings in spectacular places. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Clauca" 
In all respects, the characteristics are similar to the species form, but the needles are bluish in color. Trees after 30 years reach up to 12 m in height. The needles are long and soft. Grows well even in poor soils. Resistant to low temperatures, drought and air pollution. Used for landscaping parks, large areas, and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Violacea" 
A tree with a regular cone-shaped and dense crown, lowered to the ground. It grows especially quickly, after 30 years it reaches 10-12 m in height. The needles are long, soft, bright bluish-white. Undemanding, resistant to low temperatures, drought and air pollution. For planting in parks, gardens and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (monochrome fir) "Wintergold" 
The variety grows a little slower than the species form, but reaches the size of a large tree, after 30 years 3-5 m in height. The annual growth is about 20 cm. The needles are long, soft, identical on both sides, yellow-green in summer, golden-yellow in winter. Undemanding, frost-resistant and smoke-gas resistant. Used for large areas and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies koreana (Korean fir)
Korean fir is a slow-growing tree with a wide conical shape, reaching 3-4 m in height at the age of 30. The needles are short, green, glossy at the top, whitish on the back. A characteristic feature of the Abies koreana variety is violet-blue cones 4-7 cm long, appearing already on young trees 1-1.5 m tall. Needs moist, fertile soil. This variety is recommended for small garden plots. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies koreana (Korean fir) "Silberlocke"
A slow-growing tree, wide-conical in shape, reaching about 4 m in height at 30 years old. The needles are short, unlike the main type, strongly curved, so that the back, whitish side is visible. Forms numerous purple-blue cones. Needs fertile and moist soil. Looks good in Japanese gardens, as well as alone, in a prominent place. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies lasiocarpa (mountain fir) "Compacta" 
Mountain fir "Compacta" is a dwarf variety with a dense, wide-conical shape, the needles are silver-blue, short, not prickly. The branches are short and tough. At 30 years old it reaches about 3 m in height. From a distance it resembles a silver spruce. Prefers fertile and moderately moist soil. Damaged by late spring frosts. Abies lasiocarpa "Compacta" is one of the most beautiful varieties of dwarf coniferous trees. Recommended for small gardens, rocky and heather gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies veitchii (Vich fir) 
Slender tree with a pyramidal crown. It is characterized by rapid growth, reaching more than 10 m in height at the age of 30. The shoots are located obliquely upward, making the white bottom of the needles clearly visible. Requires fertile, moist soils. One of the most resilient types of fir. Recommended for large gardens and parks. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Fir differs from other tree species in its unusually beautiful clear silhouette, like a candle, with vertical, very decorative cones; fir is one of the most impressive coniferous plants on Earth. In gardens and parks, fir trees grow well on evenly moist, fertile soils. And of course, their full beauty is revealed only in solitaire plantings.
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Balsam fir- Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.It grows in the coniferous forest zone of North America, Canada and the USA, reaching almost to the tundra zone, and in the mountains to the upper border of the forest (1500-2500 m). It is often found in low-lying areas and near water bodies in a mixture with other species; it forms pure stands in swamps and high in the mountains. Shade-tolerant. The most common fir in North America. It is considered short-lived, living up to 150-200 years.
Abies balsamea "Nana"
Photo by EDSR.
The tree is 15-25 m high, with a trunk up to 50 (-70) cm in diameter, with a regularly cone-shaped dense, low-slung crown. The bark of young trees is ash-gray, smooth, with a large number of balsam (gum) nodules, then with age it turns reddish-brown, finely and irregularly fissured. Young shoots are initially green, covered with short, strong, erect hairs, then red-brown, glabrous. The buds are spherical or ovoid, resinous, greenish with a characteristic pale purple tint. Needles 15-25 (-35) mm long, 2 mm wide, dark green above, shiny, with 4-7 stomatal lines running along the entire needle near the midrib, below with 6-9 stomatal lines on both sides keels, blunt or slightly notched at the apex, last 4-7 years, aromatic when rubbed. The needles on the shoot are located in two rows, almost perpendicular to each other, in each of the rows in the form of the Latin letter V, one in relation to the other. The cones are oval-cylindrical, 5-10 cm long, 2-2.5 cm thick, immature dark purple, mature gray-brown, highly resinous. Seed scales are about 15 mm long, 17 mm wide, broadly wedge-shaped, rounded along the upper edge, with a narrow small stalk. Covering scales are shorter than seed scales, almost rounded, serrated on top, with a short tip and a narrow, short stalk. Seed wing with a purple tint.
Shade-tolerant, frost-resistant, grows relatively quickly, shoots ripen completely. The lower branches, being covered with humus, take root easily, while the young trees growing around the mother plant create a very impressive group. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 20-30. Dusting - with an interval of 1-4 years. Reacts negatively to trampling and breaking off. Good for alley, group and single plantings. Very showy with numerous young dark purple buds. It should be borne in mind that if there is a superficial root system, it is windfall. In culture since 1697.
Abies balsamea "Piccolo"
Photo of Uspensky Igor
Used in single and small group plantings in gardens and parks throughout the forest zone of the European part of Russia; to the north - to the latitude of St. Petersburg, to the east - to Yekaterinburg, to the west - to Belarus. Not suitable for southern regions with dry climate and soils.
In GBS since 1952, 9 samples (8 copies) were obtained from Minsk, the Far East, the Trostyanets arboretum (Ukraine), VILR (Moscow), Kurnik (Poland). Tree, at 14 years height 5.9 m, trunk diameter 6.5/9.5 cm. Vegetation from 25.IV ± 4. Grows quickly, annual growth of 15 cm, less often up to 25 cm. Dust from 12.V ± 3 to 19.V ± 7, 7-8 days. The cones mature at 3.IX ± 5. They are propagated by seeds, which are sown immediately after collection, and by layering. Winter hardiness is high. Seed germination rate is 7%. Rarely found in landscaping.
In St. Petersburg since the end of the 18th century. Currently grown in the collections of the Botanical Garden BIN and the Forestry Academy. Tolerates severe winter frosts and grows well in moderately cold climates. The root system, unlike other firs, is superficial.
This species hybridizes under natural conditions with Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.), forming a hybridogenic species Abies x phanerolepis(Fern.) Liu (A. balsamea var. phanerolepis Fern.), common in the state
Virginia. Differs from Abies balsamea in smaller cones (2-5.5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm thick) and longer covering scales, reaching 2/3 of the length of the seed scales. It is grown in the collections of BIN and at the Otradnoe scientific experimental station.
A. b. var phanerolepis Fern. - P.b. clear-squamous. Tree 15-25 m tall. Canada. In GBS since 1986. In the arboretum since 1992. Seeds were obtained from the Salaspils Botanical Garden (Latvia). At 7 years, height is up to 1.8 m, trunk diameter at the root collar is 1.5 cm. Vegetation from the first ten days of May. Annual growth is about 10 cm. Does not generate dust. Winter hardiness is high. Not found in Moscow landscaping.
"Hudsonia" ("Hudsonia"). A dwarf mountain form from New Hampshire, where it grows along the upper border of the forest. The crown is wide. The branches are very dense, the shoots are numerous and short. The needles are short, flat, wide, black-green above, bluish-green below. Known since 1810. Rarely used in single and group plantings.
"Nana", Low ("Nana"). Dwarf form up to 50 cm tall. The crown is rounded, its diameter is 2 - 2.5 m. The branches are spreading, dense, growing horizontally. The needles are short, 4-10 mm long, thick, dark green, with two blue-white stripes below, the middle and edge are lighter, yellow-green. It grows slowly. Shade-tolerant. Frost-resistant. Propagated by cuttings or grafting. Introduced into culture in 1850. In the BIN Botanical Garden since 1989. Suitable for rocky gardens, as well as for growing in containers, for landscaping terraces and roofs. It is recommended to plant in groups on the lawn or solitary in rock gardens.
Other decorative forms: gray(f. glauca) - with bluish needles; silver(f. argentea) - with white needles at the ends; motley(f. variegata) - with yellow-variegated needles; columnar(f. columnaris); prostrate(f. prostrata) - dwarf, with branches spread above the ground.