Fir noble grade glauca. Korean fir: description, planting and care
The genus includes about 50 species, common in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.
Under natural conditions, fir grows in the mountainous zones of the temperate and subtropical belt of Eastern and Central Europe, the Far East, Siberia, East and Central Asia (China, Japan, the Korea 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 highlands of North Carolina. Fir mainly grows in humid, cool climates. The tallest tree in Russia is exactly the fir ().
The fir is a powerful, monoecious, evergreen tree with a conical crown. The fir has a powerful root system, pivotal, going deep into the soil. Fir buds are resinous or without resin at all. Needles are of two types.
On reproductive shoots, with a pointed apex, on vegetative shoots, with a weak pomaceous or rounded apex. Fir needles live for about 8-15 years, but where the climate is colder, the needles stay on the tree longer.
In most representatives, the needles are single, located spirally, due to the twisting of the petioles on the lateral branches, flat or comb in one plane. At the base, the leaves are expanded into a rounded disc, which retains a trace on the shoot after falling, sometimes protruding slightly.
Cones are cylindrical, sessile, ovoid, ripen in the first year and disintegrate in autumn or winter, releasing seeds. The stem of the cones stays on the branches for a long time. On the upper edge of the seed scales, cut or broadly rounded, narrowed downward, with a wedge-shaped base, without a navel.
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, in an open place earlier. Male fir cones are at the top of last year's shoots, female cones are reddish-purple or green, upright, 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 it picks up the pace. The maximum age of fir is about 300-500 years.
Fir is a very decorative forest species, which not only produces timber, but is also common in landscape construction. Fir is very decorative and takes root well outside its natural range. Fir balsam and valuable resins are obtained from the bark of some types of fir, from branches and needles - fir oil, fir legs are also appreciated. Essential oil is made from them. In addition to essential oil, the 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 border of the forest, but most often it grows in lowlands and next to drains, along with species of thuja, hemlock, spruce, pine, as well as deciduous species.
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, 5 to 10 cm long and 2 cm thick. They are scattered in October.
Seeds are brown in color with a purple tint, their size is 5-8 mm. This type of fir begins fruiting at the age of 20-30. This type of fir is shade-tolerant. Prefers loamy moist soils. Lives for about 150-200 years.
White fir (European)
This type of fir grows at an altitude of about 350-1500 m above sea level, forms clear forests, as well as mixed with spruce and beech. The tree is about 30-60 m high, with a trunk up to 2 m in diameter. The needles are dull, flat, shiny, dark green above, below - with white stripes, about 2-3 cm long. On the shoots, it stays for 6-9 years.
Female cones- green, solitary, vertical, formed close to the ends of last year's shoots, male cones are purple or yellow, singly sitting in the axils of the needles of last year's shoots. White fir does not tolerate dryness and waterlogged soil. Likes to grow in moist fertile soils. The tree lives up to 300-400 years.
The wood of this fir is white, without resinous passages, very resistant to rot, it dries perfectly, is sawn, chopped, planed and veneered, thanks to which it is widely used in construction.
Great fir
The great fir grows naturally on the Pacific coast of North America. The crown of this type of fir is conical, 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 effect, great fir is rarely used in landscaping due to the requirements for growing conditions, as well as climate. A tree with a height of 35 to 90 m and a trunk diameter of 70-120 cm. The shape of the needles is dark green, has a tetrahedral shape. Prefers moderately moist fertile soils. Life expectancy is about 250-300 years.
Vicha fir
The Vicha fir grows naturally in the mountains of Japan, forming mixed or pure stands with other types of fir, spruce trees at an altitude of about 1300-1900 m above sea level. It is a slender tree with a pyramidal crown. It grows very quickly, at the age of 30 it reaches more than 10 meters in height.
The needles are soft, about 2.5 cm long, dark green, shiny on top, below - with white stripes. In windy conditions, this gives the tree a silvery-white hue.
Cones are about 7 cm long, purple-purple at a young age, brown at a mature age, wide-cylindrical scales, 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 the Spanish fir has proven that this tree appeared even before the Ice Age. Today they are trying to establish how it survived.
The crown is conical, wide, low-set, branches are arranged horizontally. The bark is smooth, dark gray, cracks at maturity. Young shoots are glabrous, almost highly resinous. The branches are hard, covered with very hard spiky needles of a silvery-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 has a rough bark. Its young, yellowish shoots are covered with fine hairs. Then they take on a red tint.
The Korean fir is full of charm. Already in her youth, she begins to bear fruit in abundance. Excellent, upward directed purple-purple cones against the background of green needles give the tree an amazing look. Due to its decorative effect, Korean fir is widely cultivated all over the world.
Its high quality wood is used for the pulp and paper industry.
Nordman 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 traces from flying branches and cracks.
Young shoots are yellow-green, pubescent, then become brownish-brown and naked. Her kidneys do not contain resin, are pubescent. The Caucasian fir is wind-resistant due to its developed root system.
Demanding on air humidity, loves fresh, loam with an admixture of black soil. However, it can grow on calcareous soils. This type of fir is durable, lives up to 500-800 years.
Fir monochromatic
The homeland of the monochromatic fir is North America. Plantations of this species are usually located on shady slopes, as well as along rivers. Large tree with a conical crown.
The branches are arranged 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, they smell like lemon. On both sides, it is dull bluish green.
Bears fruit every 3 years. 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 on sandy dry soils.
This fir is very decorative. Forms with silvery and bluish needles, which adorn any personal plot, are especially popular with gardeners.
Under natural conditions, the fir of the same scale grows in the central regions of Japan. The tree is about 25-40 meters high, the 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, the bottom is bluish in color, and the top is dark green.
Male cones 7 mm wide, 1.5 cm long, are ovoid. Female cones are dark purple, cylindrical. Brown cones, 3 cm wide and 10 cm long. Lives about 300 years.
It grows in the mountains of North America. Fir is best cultivated in areas with a humid warm climate. It is a valuable decorative species used in landscape design.
Looks very impressive in group and single landings. Above the needles are dull blue-green, below with white stripes. Keeps on shoots for 9 years. Lives for about 300 years.
Location
Fir trees are shade-tolerant, but thrive best in good lighting conditions. Wind resistant. Demanding air humidity. Very sensitive to air pollution from gases and fumes.
Fir soil
All firs are demanding on moisture, richness and soil drainage.
Fir propagation
Fir propagates by seeds, which are harvested at the beginning of the ripening of the cones. You need to sow in autumn or spring. Under normal conditions, seeds are stored for up to one year. Reproduction by annual cuttings is also possible. The roots of cuttings are formed after 8-9 months.
Partners
Looks great with other large trees (pseudo-pine, pine, spruce, larch). Low-growing species are planted with low conifers and ground cover perennials.
Is an evergreen plant with a conical crown. The crown of the fir starts from the base of the trunk. In mature trees, the crown top is rounded or notched.
The color of the peridermis is gray, it is not wrinkled in most. The peridem of mature trees thickens and cracks over time. Some garden species have green-gray or green-blue needles. The needles of most trees are flat, dark green in color with milky stripes underneath.
Fir has a pleasant pine scent. There are about forty species of fir, but not all of them are suitable for landscape gardening, as individual plants grow up to sixty meters. The bumps are located at the top of the crown. Buds take decades to develop. Fir cones fall to the ground in woody parts. Fir root, pivotal, strong.
There are firs with decorative cones, these include the following types: Korean fir, Vich fir, monochromatic fir, Fraser fir, Siberian fir. Fir is subdivided into species, which, in turn, have various varieties. Below you will find the most popular and common varieties of fir.
Did you know? A distinctive feature of fir plants is the location of the resin passages in the periderm, and not in the wood.
Homeland - North America and Canada. The top of the tree is symmetrical, dense, pin-shaped, low. Plant height - from 15 to 25 meters. With age, the peridermis changes its color from ash-gray to red-brown, and the shoots from ruby to red-brown. The branches are arranged in a ring-like manner along the tiers. The needles are shiny, poisonous green, with a pronounced balsamic smell, small lilac cones. 
Cones are cylindrical, up to ten centimeters long. This type of fir is shade-tolerant, frost-resistant and fast-growing. The branches of the lower tier take root well. Balsam fir is represented by several ornamental garden forms such as Nana and Hudsonia. 
The balsam fir variety Nana is a slow-growing plant in the form of a dwarf bush. The bush is earthy, pillow-shaped, the height does not exceed fifty centimeters, and the diameter is eighty centimeters. The needles of the bush are short, ruby color, strongly knocked down, pleasantly smelling. Nana is winter-hardy, but does not tolerate high temperatures and drought.
The homeland of the monochromatic fir is the mountainous regions of the United States and northern Mexico. Trees grow up to sixty meters. The crown is wide and conical. The peridermis is dense, light gray in color with elongated cracks. The needles of a single-colored fir are the largest among the other species, their length is about six centimeters. 
The color of the needles is gray-green matte on all sides, they are soft and have a pleasant lemon scent. The cones are dark purple in color, their length reaches 12 cm, the shape is oval-cylindrical. Monochrome fir is a fast-growing tree, resistant to winds, smoke, droughts and frosts. Lives about 350 years. The single-color fir has several decorative forms, among them popular varieties such as Violacea and Compact.
Violacea is a lilac monochromatic fir. The top of the tree is wide, conical, and the height does not exceed eight meters. The needles are oblong, blue-white. This form of fir is rarely found in ornamental plantings. 
Campakta is a dwarf, slow-growing shrub with randomly placed branches. The length of the needles reaches forty centimeters, the color is blue. Just like Violaceu, she is very rare.
Kefallin fir (Greek)
Kefallin fir lives in the south of Albania and in Greece, in the mountains at an altitude of two thousand meters above sea level. The plant grows to a height of 35 meters, the trunk diameter reaches two meters. The crown is dense, conical, low. The peridermis becomes cracked over time. Juveniles are bare, polished to the touch, shiny, bright brown or reddish brown in color. Buds are conical, resinous red-purple in color. 
Needles up to 3.5 cm long and no more than three millimeters wide. The tops of the needles are sharp, the needles themselves are shiny and thick, dark green at the top and pale green at the bottom. The needles are arranged in a spiral manner, closely to each other. Cones are narrow, cylindrical, resinous, large. At first, the buds are lilac in color, and as they mature, they become brown-purple. Greek fir is drought-resistant, grows slowly, fears cold winters.
Whole-leaved fir (black Manchurian)
The homeland of the whole-leaved fir is the south of Primorye, North China and Korea. The tree grows up to 45 meters. The crown is dense, wide-pyramidal, loose, lowered to the ground. A distinctive feature of this type of fir is the color of the bark - at first it is dark gray, and then black. Young saplings have yellow-gray periderm. The needles are dense, hard, sharp, solid. The top of the needles of a dark green color is shiny, and the bottom is lighter. 
The needles are located on the branches in waves. Black Manchurian fir changes needles every nine years. Cones are cylindrical, light brown in color, resinous, velvety pubescent. The first ten years of life grows slowly, and then the growth increases rapidly. The tree has a lifespan of 400 years. The tree is winter-hardy, shade-tolerant, wind-resistant, requires high soil and environmental moisture.
Nordmann fir (Caucasian)
The homeland of the Caucasian fir is the Western Caucasus and Turkey. The Nordmann fir grows up to 60 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of up to two meters. The crown is narrow, conical, densely branched. Young plantings have a shiny light brown or yellow color, periderm, which turns gray over time. Youngsters are shiny red-brown and then white-gray. 
The needles are dark green, dense, the bottom of the needles is silver. You can rarely meet, since the tree has a low winter hardiness. There are several varieties of fir for decorative cultivation: Pendula Aurea, Gtauka, Albo-spikata. 
Did you know? The Nordmann fir has a lifespan of five hundred years.
Sakhalin fir comes from Sakhalin and Japan. The plant is highly decorative, up to thirty meters high, has a smooth periderm of a dark steel color, which becomes darker as it grows. The seedling diameter does not exceed one meter. The branches of the broad-conical dense crown are slightly curved upward. 
The needles are soft, dark green, with milky stripes below. The length of the needles reaches four centimeters, the width is no more than two millimeters. Cones are placed vertically, cylindrical in shape. The color of the cones is brown or black-blue, length 8 cm, diameter 3 cm. The plant is frost-resistant, requires increased moisture content in the air and soil.
Subalpine fir (mountain)
Mountain fir is native to the high mountains of North America. The height does not exceed 40 meters, the trunk is 60 cm in diameter. The tops of the trees are undersized, narrow-conical. Subalpine fir has a smooth gray periderm covered with small cracks. The top of the needles is matte grassy blue, and the bottom has two white stripes. The needles are attached in two rows. Subalpine fir has cylindrical cones and ripens annually at the end of August. There are types of mountain fir suitable for ornamental cultivation. 
Argentea is a mountain fir with silvery needles. Glauka is a subalpine fir up to 12 meters high, with a pyramid-shaped crown and elongated steel or blue needles. Compact - a dwarf-shaped fir no more than one and a half meters in height with a wide, well-branched crown. The needles are of a silvery sky color, with gray stripes below. The shape of the needles is similar to a sickle, the length is 3 cm. The needles are tightly arranged. Low-growing varieties are widespread among amateur gardeners. 
Important! Young fir seedlings must be covered for the winter, since they are afraid of spring frosts.
It grows in mountain ranges from one hundred to 1850 meters above sea level in the south of the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island. This type of fir was discovered in 1907. The seedling does not grow taller than 15 meters. Young growth is first yellow, and then red, covered with thin villi. The needles are short, at the top are shiny dark green, at the bottom are white. The buds are beautiful bright blue with a lilac tint. Grows slowly, hardy. 
Widespread varieties such as Blue Standard - tall trees with dark purple cones; Brevifolia is a tree with a rounded crown, marsh-green needles at the top and gray-white at the bottom, and small purple cones; Zilberzwerg is a low, slow-growing variety of fir with silver needles, a rounded crown and short, densely branching branches; Piccolo is a shrub about thirty centimeters high, up to one and a half meters in diameter with a flat, spreading crown, needles of a dark grassy color.
Fir high (noble)
The high fir reaches a height of 100 meters. The homeland of the noble fir is the western part of North America. Growing habitat - river valleys and gentle slopes near the ocean. It is practically the tallest type of fir. It has a cone-shaped crown when the seedlings are young, and with the seedling age, the crown will become dome-shaped. Young growth has a gray-brown smooth periderm, and older seedlings have a dark brown periderm covered with elongated cracks. 
Young branches of olive-green or red-brown hue, in a cannon. Older branches are bare. The needles are small, curved at the base. The top of the needles is brilliant green, and the bottom is gray. The shape of the cones is oblong-cylindrical, up to 12 cm long, 4 cm in diameter. Not ripe cones are emerald or red-brown in color, but ripe dark brown-gray resinous. The life span of the noble fir is about 250 years. The seedling grows quickly.
Did you know? Peridermis, needles and fir buds are used for the manufacture of medicinal preparations. They contain essential oils and tannins.
The homeland of the fir is Central Japan, the habitat is the mountains. The height is about forty meters. The branches of the plant are short, located perpendicular to the trunk, the crown is pyramidal. The trunk is covered with a smooth white-gray periderm. Young growth is covered with pubescent peridermis of gray or emerald color. 
The needles are soft, slightly curved, no more than 2.5 cm. The top of the needles is shiny dark green, the bottom is decorated with milk stripes. The length of the cones is about 7 cm. Unripe cones of a red-gray-lilac color eventually acquire a chestnut color. The plant is winter-hardy, fast-growing, smoke-resistant.
The homeland of this type of fir is North America. The height of the tree is -25 meters, the crown is pyramid-shaped or conical. The young fir trunk is covered with gray periderm, and the old trunk is red, branches are yellow-gray. The needles are scanty, shiny dark green above and silvery below. Cones are short, decorative, purple-brown when mature. 
The plant is winter-hardy, but it does not tolerate gas pollution in the air. Fraser's fir is used for landscaping parks, forest parks and suburban areas. There is a shrub with a perpendicular arrangement of branches - the Fraser fir is prostrate.
The homeland of the Siberian fir is Siberia. It is rarely found in landscaping. The height of the plant does not exceed thirty meters. The crown is narrow, conical. The branches are thin, lowered to the ground. The peridermis is cracked at the bottom of the trunk, not rough at the top, dark gray. Shoots are covered with thick pile. The needles are soft, narrow and blunt at the end, up to three centimeters long.
The color of the needles is dark green shiny at the top and two parallel milky stripes at the bottom. Siberian fir changes needles every 11 years. Cones are erect, cylindrical, initially light chestnut or light purple, and then light brown in color. The plant is winter-hardy, shade-tolerant. There is Siberian blue, white, motley. They differ only in the color of the needles.
Important! Fir should not be planted in absolute shade, since its crown is fully formed only with sufficient lighting.
White fir (European)
White fir is a plant that grows up to 65 meters with a trunk diameter of up to one and a half meters. The crown of the plant is conical. The peridermis is white-gray with a red tint. Young European fir green or light chestnut color, eventually become gray-chestnut. The needles are dark green, silvery below. The homeland of the European fir is the countries of Central and Southern Europe. The tree grows slowly, does not like windy areas.
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Fir is one of the striking plants that deserves the status of the queen of conifers. Fir looks most impressive when it grows away from other plantings. Having a slender trunk, it also stands out with a lush crown, and in addition to this, it is capable of not losing the decorative effect of the lower branches for many months, which distinguishes it favorably from many other coniferous representatives. This feature has made it one of the most popular options as a New Year tree.
Christmas fir
In mid-December, many people start preparing for the New Year's holiday. Therefore, they try to stock up on gifts and decorations, as well as garlands, bouquets, figurines and wreaths to make their home festive. However, the main attribute of the New Year is beautifully decorated christmas tree.
Usually, many of us do not think about choosing a New Year tree and buy ordinary spruce or prickly spruce. At the same time, everyone usually forgets about the fir. And, I must say, in vain, since this tree looks no less beautiful than the above coniferous representatives.
New Year's fir attracts attention not only for its decorative properties, but also for its great convenience when decorating a Christmas tree.
Unlike many other conifers, this tree has soft, rounded needles, therefore, while hanging Christmas toys on the tree, you will not get any unpleasant sensations when touching the needles. Therefore, fir fully justifies the name fluffy. Fir also boasts a natural decoration, which is dark purple cones. Moreover, they do not sit like a spruce, but are directed vertically upward. Because of this feature, fir cones can be easily mistaken for candles, as a result this tree takes on an even more solemn appearance.
Naturally, if you walk through the local Christmas tree bazaars, you are unlikely to find fir, and if you come across it, then, most likely, the seller will demand a fantastic price for it. The owners of summer cottages who are ready to celebrate the New Year outside the city can get out of this difficult situation. If you plant this tree there, you will be able to celebrate the New Year's holiday by the beautiful lush fir every year. Moreover, she will be able to bring you joy all year round.
One of the prerequisites, under which it is possible to create favorable conditions for the growth and development of fir, is good drainage... You also need to pay attention to the quality of the soil, which should be provided with moisture in moderation. If the water stagnates in the selected area for planting fir, the plant will not be able to grow well. The fertility of the soil also affects the development of the tree, therefore, in order for the fir to mature quickly, it should be planted in well-fertilized soil.
It is recommended to plan fir planting in April or September. Transplanting a young seedling can be done both in spring and summer. You just need to make sure that during the transfer the clod of earth around the root system remains intact. The best survival rate is demonstrated by young trees that are replanted at the age of 5-10 years.
For young fir it is necessary prepare a comfortable pit, for which the optimal dimensions are 60 x 60 cm. During planting, make sure that the root collar corresponds to the soil level. Upon completion of the fir planting, mulching of the root zone is carried out using sawdust or peat. Mulch will effectively cope with its task if it is laid in a layer of 5-8 cm. Then you can be sure that the young fir seedling will not suffer from frost. However, with respect to adult plants, such an operation will not be required, since at this stage life cycle they acquire high resistance to negative temperatures.
If in your place of residence there are often strong changes in temperature in winter, and return frosts are not uncommon in spring, then you should build a special protective shelter made of spruce branches for a young fir seedling. So that the tree does not suffer, it must be completely covered. This is primarily important for those varieties that have to winter for the first time. Otherwise, the tree will not tolerate severe cold weather, as a result of which its needles may turn red.
Those trees become adults which have been growing for over 15 years... The first 10-15 years after planting, the growth of the tree is usually hardly noticeable, but later the situation changes, as a result, each year the fir adds 30-50 cm.Many trees that have reached 30 years of age often reach a height of 10 m.
Fir varieties and types
A photo of this representative of the conifer family gives only general information... Therefore, if you decide to plant a fir in your personal plot, then it will not hurt you to first decide on the variety of this tree. After all, each of them has its own characteristics, knowing about which you can imagine in advance what will happen in the end.
This representative of the conifer family is very different decorative crown and coloring... The plant has a dense, wide, pyramidal crown. During development, the branches are parallel to the ground. Throughout their entire life span, trees do not change their bark color, which remains light gray. In young plants, it is initially smooth, but over time, growths and cracks can be found on it. The cones are cylindrical in shape, the characteristic color is dark purple, they are rather small in size and reach a length of 8-12 cm, they must contain large amount of resin.
The most pronounced properties within this type of fir have blue uniform "Violacea"... This variety is decorated with bluish-blue needles, which are sickle-curved at the same time. This variety of fir is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, it begins to grow relatively quickly after transplanting, in a short time it acquires its natural appearance, and is less susceptible to coniferous aphids. Usually, mature plants reach a height of 6-8 m.
A photo of this tree can only help you understand what an adult plant might look like. However, this is not enough, therefore, be sure to familiarize yourself with the features of this tree before planting.
This species of the conifer family feels great in the middle lane. Korean fir is covered with shiny needles that have different colors - dark green above, white below... Cones, which have a bright purple color, stand out with pronounced decorative properties. Moreover, they are formed even in young plants. Some specimens of the Korean variety can reach a height of 15 m.
- within the framework of this type of fir, the Blue Standart variety stands out, which attracts more attention dark color cones;
- a distinctive feature of the "Silberzwerg" variety is its short stature. Throughout its life, this tree shows extremely slow growth. Usually, it increases in height by no more than 5 cm per year. The tree forms short shoots that have strong branches. This explains its rounded shape. The branches are decorated with silver needles.
You can admire a photo of this tree for a long time. However, this species stands out not only for its beautiful needles.
This representative of conifers is distinguished by a slender trunk, which is complemented by a cone-shaped crown. As it grows, balsam fir forms branches that located horizontally at the bottom... As they move to the top, they begin to rise slightly vertically.
Conclusion
Despite its not so great popularity, the fir can become a worthy alternative to regular spruce... Moreover, it is not a problem that this tree cannot always be found on sale. Korean fir, like any coniferous tree, can be grown on your site. The process itself is not very complicated, and for this it is not necessary to find out where the fir grows. The main thing is to take into account the peculiarities of the landing. It is very important here to ensure that the selected area is moderately moist and has fertile soil.
It also does not hurt to decide on the variety of fir before planting, since it provides many varieties, which can differ not only in growth rate, but also in their shape. It is enough to take these nuances into account before planting, and then in a couple of years you will be able to celebrate the New Year's holiday at your dacha, without worrying about the fact that in a couple of days the New Year's tree will lose its attractiveness.
- Abies arizonica
Homeland: Southwestern USA, Arizona.
Description of the plant: tree up to 15 m. Grows slowly, especially when young. It is close to the subalpine fir and is often considered a variety of it. Differs in smaller size, whitish, thick and strongly corky bark, smaller cones. The needles are notched at the top, correctly, comb-like, located, lighter below than that of subalpine fir, thanks to this the crown has a beautiful silvery-bluish tint. Winter hardiness: high.
Features of cultivation: grown on fertile, moist, light and well-drained soils. Like other firs, it can be damaged by Hermes. Shade-tolerant.
Reproduction: seeds. Garden forms by semi-lignified green cuttings or grafting.
Usage: for single landings and small groups. In culture, it is usually small in size and can be used for small gardens, home gardens, rock gardens, heather gardens and rocky hills.
Note: very hardy, beautiful blue fir, relatively small in size. In addition to the needles, the color of the bark is decorative.
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- Abies balsamea
One of the main forest-forming species in North America, where it grows in the coniferous forest zone. In the mountains, it rises to the border of the forest (1500-2500 m), but more often it grows in lowlands and near drains along with species of spruce, thuja, hemlock, pine and deciduous species.
When a tree reaches the age of 50-90 years, its wood is often rotted.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A slender tree with a regular, conical or narrow pyramidal, dense crown that descends to the ground in single standing trees. The lower branches, covered with humus, root easily. At the same time, young trees growing around the mother plant create a very effective group. The bark is gray-brown, smooth, with large resin nodules. The buds are spherical, resinous, with a pleasant aroma. Reacts negatively to trampling the soil and breaking off branches. The species has a superficial root system, therefore it is prone to windfall.
It grows relatively quickly.
Latin name Abies balsamea.
Area Canada from the Atlantic coast to the province of Alberta; the southern border runs through Minnesota and upstate New York in the United States.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree with a height of 15-25 m and a trunk diameter of 0.5-0.8 m.
Decorativeness Very decorative appearance, thanks to the numerous young dark purple cones.
Needle shape Dark green, dull, fragrant needles, shiny on top, and with two whitish stripes on the bottom, 1.5-3.5 cm long. It is located on the shoots in several rows one above the other, functions up to 5 years.
Time and form of flowering
Cones Gray-brown, very resinous, oval-cylindrical cones, 5-10 cm long and 2-2.5 cm thick. They crumble in October. Seeds with a small wing, brown with a purple tint are 5-8 mm in size. Abundant seed yields are repeated in 2-3 years. The species begins to bear fruit from 20-30 years.
Soil requirements Prefers loamy moist soils.
Attitude to light Shade tolerant.
The species is quite gas resistant.
Frost resistance The species is frost-resistant in all areas of horticulture.
Shelter for the winter
Life span Lives up to 150-200 years.
This species grows at an altitude of 300-2000 m above sea level, forming both clean forests and mixed with beech and spruce. White fir wood (European) white, without resinous passages, resistant to rot, dries well, splits, saws, planes and veneers, due to which it is widely used as a building and ornamental material.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is conical, in old age it is almost cylindrical, with a blunt-nest-shaped apex, the bark is light gray, smooth, sometimes with a reddish tint, cracks in the lower part with age. The trunk is well cleared of twigs, branches, slightly raised upward, move away from the trunk almost horizontally. The buds are light brown, non-resinous. The deep pivotal root system imparts wind resistance to this species.
Latin name Abies alba.
Area Carpathians, mountains of Central and Southern Europe.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree with a height of 30-60 m and a trunk diameter of up to 2 m.
Decorativeness The species is decorative due to the beautiful shape of the crown.
Needle shape The needles are flat, dull, from above - dark green, shiny, from below - with clearly visible two
white stripes, 2-3 cm long. It stays on the shoots for 6-9 years.
Time and form of flowering The species begins to bloom in spring.
Cones Female cones - green, vertical, single,
are formed near the ends of last year's shoots, male cones are yellow or purple, singly sitting in the axils of the needles of last year's shoot. Mature resinous, dark brown cones 10-16 cm long and 3-4 cm thick have an oval-cylindrical shape and a blunt apex. Yellowish seeds 7-10 mm long ripen in the fall of the first year and crumble together with the scales of the cones, leaving rods on the shoots that stick out for a long time on the branches. At the time of seed production, this species enters from 20-50 years.
Soil requirements Poorly tolerates both dryness and waterlogged soil. Prefers to grow in moist fertile soils.
Attitude to light Shade tolerant.
Resistant to urban conditions Low: The species is sensitive to smoke and gas.
Frost resistance The species is frost-hardy in the southern and middle zones of gardening.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span Lives up to 300-400 years.
- Abies nephrolepis
Homeland: Far East, China, Korea.
Description of the plant: a tree up to 25 (30) m high, with a trunk 35 cm in diameter, with a dense conical crown. The bark in youth is light gray smooth, cracking and darkening in old trees. Young shoots are yellowish, pubescent, with a weak longitudinal groove. The buds are covered with thick resin in winter. The needles are 10 - 25 (30) mm long, from above - dark green, shiny, from below - with two whitish stomatal stripes. Cones 5-7 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide, first reddish, then dark purple, crumble in October.
Winter hardiness: high, but sometimes prone to late spring frosts.
Growing features: the plant requires high humidity, does not like overdrying. Grown on deep loose, moist, loamy or sandy loam soils. Reproduction: seeds.
Usage: for single landings, groups and alleys.
Note: it is close to Siberian fir, but it is considered less decorative (less long needles and less beautiful crown shape) and more demanding on air humidity.
The great fir is one of the most beautiful conifers growing on the Pacific coast of North America. This fast-growing forest-forming tree species grows in the mountains at an altitude of 2100 m above sea level. In the "rain" forest National park Olympic (Washington state) some specimens reach a height of 80 m with a crown diameter of up to 1.5 m.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is conical, in open areas it starts from the ground itself. The bark is dark brown, thin, with age reaches a thickness of 5-9 cm and cracks.
Despite the decorativeness of the great fir, this plant is rarely used in landscaping because of its rather high requirements for growing conditions and climate. In Russia, this species can rarely be found in the botanical gardens of the Black Sea coast.
Latin name Abies grandis.
Area Grows on the Pacific coast of North America.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree with a height of 35-90 m and a trunk diameter of 80-120 cm.
Decorativeness Crown shape, needles, cones.
Needle shape The dark green needles have a four-sided shape.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in spring.
Cones Cones 6-10 cm long.
Soil requirements Prefers moderately moist fertile soils.
Attitude to light Shade tolerant.
Resistant to urban conditions Low.
Frost resistance
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span 250-300 years old.
- Abies magnifica
Height: up to 70 m.
Habitat: Sierra Nevada and Klamath mountains (California, USA); Cascade Mountains (Oregon, USA).
Places of growth: coniferous forests on the steep slopes of the temperate mountains (at an altitude of 1400-2750 m).
Fir trees grow in the mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere and form both pure stands (fir) and mixed forests with other species of conifers. Resinous fir branches are covered with flat, rather soft needles, and their cones, like candles, stick out with their tops up and are concentrated mainly in the upper parts of the crowns. Fir cones form every year. From the straight trunk, dense branches branch off in whorls, sometimes reaching the very ground. The narrow conical crown gives the tree a strict, solemn look. Some splendid fir trees are more than 600 years old and have a trunk diameter of up to 2 m. On low mountain slopes, these trees grow very quickly and produce excellent timber for construction. Slightly curved needles are located on the branches of fir trees, gorgeous like the bristles of a toothbrush. The young needles of the tree are silvery-blue in color, and its cones reach a length of 23 cm - these are the largest cones of all types of fir.
The Vicha fir naturally grows in the mountains of Japan, forming pure or mixed stands with spruces, other types of fir and hemlock at an altitude of 1300-2300 m above sea level.
Its wood, devoid of resin passages, soft and light, is used for pulp and paper production. In addition, some musical instruments due to the fact that Vich fir wood has good resonance properties.
The phytoncides secreted by this tree purify the air from bacteria.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A slender tree with short, horizontally arranged branches that form a loose, pyramidal crown. The bark on the trunks is grayish and smooth, even on old trees. The kidneys are small, rounded, with abundant lubrication of vitreous resin.
In youth it is characterized by rapid growth. Being a very decorative species, the Vich fir can be used for landscaping in the western regions of the European part of Russia.
Latin name Abies veitchii.
Area Mountains of Japan.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree up to 30-40 m high.
Decorativeness
Crown shape, needles, cones. One of the most decorative types of fir.
Needle shape The needles are soft, noticeably curved, up to 2.5 cm in length, shiny above, dark green, below - with clearly visible white stripes. This gives the tree a silvery-white tint in windy conditions.
Time and form of flowering The species blooms in the spring.
Cones Cones up to 7 cm long, violet-purple in youth, later brown, broad-cylindrical scales, 6-7 cm long. Seeds are yellowish, with a short wing.
Soil requirements Prefers to grow in fertile soils.
Attitude to light The species is picky about light.
Resistant to urban conditions More resistant to smoke and gases than other species.
Frost resistance The type is frost-resistant.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span Lives 200-300 years.
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The area of the Spanish fir in the XX century. has decreased greatly. It can be found in southern Spain and in some areas of North Africa, where it grows in the upper belt of mountains at an altitude of 1000 to 2000 m above sea level, forming small clean stands or plantations with an admixture of Atlantic cedar, oak, pine and juniper.
The softwood of the Spanish fir is used for the manufacture of boxes, cellulose, and also for fuel, and fir oil is extracted from its needles.
Recent studies related to the Spanish fir have shown that this plant appeared on Earth even before the Ice Age. Now scientists are trying to establish how it could survive.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
This type of fir was discovered in 1837 by the Swiss botanist Edmond Boisser during one of his visits to the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
The crown is wide, conical, low-set, with horizontally located branches. The bark is dark gray, smooth, cracks in old age. Young shoots are glabrous, buds are highly resinous.
- Abies gracilis
Homeland: the only grove in the world on an area of about 20 hectares is located in Russia, at the mouth of the river. Semyachik, on the Pacific coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Description of the plant: a tree up to 13-15 m high, with a dense oval-pyramidal crown. The needles are 10-30 mm long, the top is dark green, shiny, the bottom is lighter, with two whitish stripes. Cones 2.5-5 cm long, almost cylindrical.
Winter hardiness: high. It is promising for breeding in northern latitudes, where other fir trees cannot withstand frosts and short summers.
Features of cultivation: grows very slowly both in nature and in culture.
Reproduction: seeds.
Usage: for rock gardens and small parks and gardens.
Note: close to Sakhalin fir and white fir. Differs in shorter needles, smaller cones, features of the structure of the bark, the shape of the seed and covering scales and the shape of the wing of the seed.
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Korean fir grows in the mountains in the south of the Korean Peninsula at an altitude of 100 to 1850 m above sea level, forming pure or mixed forests. For the first time this species was found in 1907 on the island of Chechzhudo. However, the plant received its official name only in 1920 after its careful study by French botanists.
High quality Korean fir wood is an excellent raw material for the pulp and paper industry.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
This species has a rough bark. Its young, yellowish shoots are covered with fine hairs. Later they take on a reddish tint.
Korean fir is full of grace and charm. Already at a young age, she begins to bear fruit abundantly. The gorgeous, upward-looking purple-purple buds against the bright green needles give the tree an irresistible look. Due to its decorative effect, it is widely cultivated, including in the north-west of Russia.
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This species usually forms pure fir forests and mixed with oriental spruce, aspen, maple, rowan stands located at an altitude of 1200 to 2000 m above sea level.
Nordman fir has high quality wood, which is an excellent raw material for the pulp and paper industry and construction.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A tree with a dense, narrow-pyramidal crown, a straight trunk and slightly raised branches. The bark of the trunk is smooth, gray, with small cracks and elliptical marks from fallen branches. Young shoots are yellowish-green, pubescent, later become brownish-brown and glabrous. The buds do not contain resin, are slightly pubescent. The species is wind-resistant due to its developed root system.
The Nordman fir grows rapidly and retains its growth until a ripe old age.
Latin name Abies normanniana.
Area Western part of the Main Caucasian ridge, Turkey.
Sizes of an adult plant A powerful tree up to 50-70 m high and a trunk diameter of up to 2 m.
Decorativeness The species is extremely decorative due to its slenderness, beautiful pyramidal crown, as well as dark and dense needles.
Needle shape The needles are up to 4 cm long, dark green, shiny, with two bright white stripes below, so the crown looks silvery in the wind. The needles remain on the tree for 9-13 years.
Time and form of flowering It blooms in early May, the male cones are reddish, the young female cones are slightly convex on the sides, at first they are greenish in color.
Cones Cones are oval-cylindrical, 12-20 cm long and 4-5 cm in diameter. After ripening, they become brownish-brown and resinous, with long sharp ends bent back.
Soil requirements The species is picky about air humidity, prefers fresh, deep loams with an admixture of chernozem. However, it is able to grow on calcareous soils as well.
Attitude to light The species is extremely shade-tolerant, but grows well in illuminated places.
Resistant to urban conditions Low.
Frost resistance The species is moderately hardy. Withstands short-term temperature drop down to -25 °.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span The species is durable, living up to 500-800 years.
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The homeland of this species is North America. Fir plantations of one color usually
are located on shady slopes and along rivers at altitudes from 700 to 1000-2000 m
above sea level, and sometimes, for example, in the Rocky Mountains, they rise to a height
up to 2400-3000 m.
The plant is very decorative, due to which it is widely cultivated in many countries, including Russia, where the monochromatic fir is grown in the central and northwestern regions. Especially popular with gardeners are forms with bluish and silver needles, which can decorate any personal plot.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A large tree with a dense, conical, low-drooped crown, which becomes more rare with old age. The branches are horizontal. The thick ash-gray bark has deep longitudinal cracks. The buds are spherical and resinous.
It grows slowly: at 5 years old it reaches a height of 1.1 m, and at 10 years old - 2.2 m.
Single and group plantings, which are located against the background of larch trees, benefit significantly, especially in autumn, when their needles turn yellow and the bluish tint of fir becomes the brightest.
Latin name Abies concolor.
Area It grows in the mountains of western North America along the Pacific coast.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree with a height of 40-50 m and a trunk diameter of 1-1.5 m.
Decorativeness One of the most decorative types of fir.
Needle shape Narrow soft needles, 5-8 m long, have a lemon scent. It is dull-bluish-green on both sides, which determines its specific name.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in May.
Cones This species bears fruit every 3 years. Oval-cylindrical, dark purple cones 8-15 cm long. Light brown seeds with a pinkish wing 12-13 mm long.
Soil requirements The species is undemanding to the soil. Grows well on dry sandy soils.
Attitude to light It is the most photophilous species.
Resistant to urban conditions It tolerates smoke and gas pollution well.
Frost resistance The species is frost-resistant in the southern and middle zone of horticulture.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span Lives up to 350 years.
The name of this species indicates the structure of its grayish-pink bark, which becomes scaly with age.
In natural plantings, the fir of the same scale grows in the central regions of Japan. There, high in the mountains, this majestic tree (its height reaches 35-40 meters) forms pure or mixed plantings.
The soft and light wood of the fir is prized for its resistance to rot. However, it is not strong enough, therefore it is mainly used as a raw material for the paper industry.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is pyramidal, with horizontal smooth gray or brown branches. The grayish bark has longitudinal cracks. Brown resinous buds, 10-14 mm in diameter, have an ovoid or ovoid-conical shape.
As an ornamental breed, it is suitable for the middle and southern zones of gardening.
Latin name Abies homolepis.
Area Mountains of Japan.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree with a height of 25-40 m and a crown diameter of 1-5 m.
Decorativeness Crown shape, beautiful bark and needles.
Needle shape The needles are 1-3 cm long and 1-3 cm wide, have a dark green color on top, and bluish below.
Time and form of flowering The species blooms in May. Male cones, 1.4 cm long and 7 mm wide, are ovoid. Female cones are cylindrical, dark purple.
Cones Brown cones 7-10 cm long and 3-4 cm wide.
Soil requirements Prefers fertile moist soils.
Attitude to light Shade tolerant.
Resistant to urban conditions Low.
Frost resistance The species is frost-resistant in the southern and middle zone of horticulture.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span Lives up to 300 years.
- Abies sachalinensis
Homeland: Sakhalin Island and the Kuril Islands; Japan (Hokkaido island).
Description of the plant: a tree up to 40 m high, with a dense, conical, sharp crown. The bark is smooth, light gray, longitudinally fissured on old trunks. Young shoots are reddish-brown, densely covered with coarse hairs. Buds are small, oval-ovate, densely resinous. The needles are 18-40 mm long, soft, with a rounded or weak pomaceous apex, sharp on cone-bearing shoots; from above - dark green, from below - with two whitish stripes, densely and flatly located. Cones 5-8 cm long.
Winter hardiness: high.
Growing features: demanding on air humidity.
Reproduction: seeds.
Usage: perfect for specimen, group and alley plantings.
Note: it is quite valuable in terms of forestry, since it is relatively little prone to wood rot.
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Silver fir, or noble, grows on the Pacific coast of North America at an altitude of 1070-1680 m above sea level.
Very strong wood of this type has always been in special demand and is widely used in the construction and aviation industries in the United States. Sometimes loggers passed it off as the wood of other trees to avoid fines for the destruction of this valuable tree species.
In addition, due to its decorative value, silver fir accounts for 12% of the total sales of Christmas trees in the Northwest United States.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
Has a slender, narrow, conical crown. The species prefers a humid and warm climate.
It has a very slow growth, especially at a young age. The height of a seven-year-old tree is about 50 cm.
This species has several varieties that differ in the shape of the crown and the color of the needles. Unfortunately, they are rare in Russia.
Latin name Abies procera,
Area It occurs naturally along the Pacific coast of North America.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree up to 80 m high and a trunk diameter of 220 cm.
Decorativeness Crown shape, needles.
Needle shape The needles are soft and flat, 1-3 cm long and 0.2 cm wide. They have a pungent aroma, vaguely reminiscent of the smell of turpentine.
Time and form of flowering The flowering of the species begins in May. The female cones are at the top of the crown, while the male cones are slightly lower. Development male cones directly depends on the ambient temperature and air humidity.
Cones The bud formation ends in August of the same year. Light brown seeds fall in late September - early October.
Soil requirements The species is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but prefers moist areas for growth.
Attitude to light Shade tolerant.
Resistant to urban conditions Low.
Frost resistance Low. The species is thermophilic.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span Over 300 years
Evergreen tree, 30-40 m tall. The bark is gray, smooth, with a large number of resin glands. Fir needles are from 1.5 to 3 cm long, soft, flat, notched at the apex, shiny, with two stomatal stripes on the underside.
Natural area: Siberia, Europe, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Northeast China. In Altai and Sayan mountains it rises up to 2200 m above sea level. seas. In the highlands, the elfin form is found.
In the early years it grows slowly. Winter hardiness 1. Shade-tolerant. Gas resistant. Prefers moist rich soils and high air humidity, especially at a young age, although it grows satisfactorily on relatively poor and insufficiently moist soils. In the latter case, the rate of its growth only decreases, and, consequently, the annual increase.
Fir cones develop in the upper part of the crown, are erect, do not fall off entirely, but are scattered in the crown of the tree in late September-early October. Fir does not bear fruit every year. Like most pine trees, breaks in abundant fruiting can reach 3-4 years. Active fruiting begins at the age of 40-50 years, but in open habitats, the beginning of fruiting is noted at 15-20 years.
It successfully propagates by seeds, which, when sown in spring, sprout in 3 weeks. Cold stratification of seeds at 1-4 ° C for a month increases their germination and germination energy. In nature, it successfully reproduces vegetatively due to rooting of the lower branches or branches of fallen trees, forming a dwarf tree. You can sow in spring after the frost stops or in the fall, followed by rearing 2-3-year-old seedlings at school. For landscaping, it is best to use large seedlings, growing them in school for 4-5 years or longer.
Decorative with a narrow conical dense crown. The existence of intraspecific forms is known, differing in the structure of the crown and the color of the needles.
Along with typically dark green plants, sometimes there are specimens with bluish, yellowish-white or silvery needles along the edges and an atypical crown shape (weeping, pyramidal, spherical (shrub), etc.). To preserve these characteristics, it is necessary to propagate such forms only by grafting onto a regular stock.
Siberian fir is one of the most valuable conifers for gardening and landscaping in the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia. Effective when creating small landscape groups and as a tapeworm on lawns. It is also of interest when creating large arrays.
The most important condition for the growth of Siberian fir is air humidity. The optimal amount of precipitation is at least 600-700 mm per year, although it can grow in less humid climates.
Recently, fir has become quite often used in green building when creating landscape groups, less often in alley plantings. It should be noted that at a young age, fir is often more demanding on soil fertility, air humidity and does not tolerate prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. ...
- Abies nebrodensis
The tree is up to 15 m high, with a pyramidal, dark green crown, slightly squat; the trunk is straight or slightly curved. The needles spirally cover the branches, trying to take a more even position compared to those in the shade; the length of the needles is up to 2 cm, and the width is up to 3.5 mm; the upper side of the needles is green and shiny, and the lower side is greenish-white. Male spikelets are tightly located on the sides, they appear greenish-yellow with their purple scales. Female cones stand on a short pedicel, at first they are yellowish-green, then, when ripe, they become greenish-brown and reach a length of 10 cm. They have a cylindrical shape, the top is conical; scales bent downwards stand out strongly.
ORIGIN. The tree is endemic to the town of Madonie on the territory of Polizzi Generoza (Angel Valley), where no more than thirty specimens grow - this is all that remains of the forests that once disappeared and grew here. In Italy, in addition to individual specimens that grow wild in Madonie, where you can admire them, there are artificial plantings in different parts of the Southern Apennines.
The tree grows at an altitude of about 1500 m above sea level - on rocky limestone soils, in the climatic zone between the upper border of stone oaks and beech forests; here the summer is quite hot and dry, and in winter there is a lot of snow and very low temperatures were not recorded. Now the place of the former forest is occupied by thickets that have grown on the site of destroyed trees - with them they share the former habitat of the "Sicilian fir". The tree is under protection, since this species is listed in the international Red Book.
SIMILAR TYPES. Numidian or algerian fir (Abies numidica) is usually considered the twin of the Sicilian fir, but some scientists are sure that similar species should be looked for in "Greek fir" (Abies cephalonica) which, indeed, are very similar to nebrodensis... The Numidian fir has the same trunk and short needles, but the cones do not have protruding scales, and the Greek fir is slender and majestic, with long and thorny needles.
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Subalpine fir grows in mixed forests in western Arizona, at an altitude of 2400-3000 m above sea level, where it is adjacent to Engelman spruce. The needles of this tree have a wonderful aroma.
In culture, subalpine fir has been maintained since 1863. It is best cultivated in regions with a humid and warm climate. A valuable ornamental tree, this picturesque tree is widely used in landscape design. It looks especially impressive in single and group plantings.
At a young age, subalpine fir cultivars can be formed, giving the plants a more compact form.
FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is narrow-conical, undersized in the alpine zone. Young bark is smooth, silvery-gray, later grayish-brown, with a crust. Young branches are ash-gray, shortly pubescent, rarely glabrous. The buds are small, ovoid, highly resinous. The root system of this type of fir is superficial, so the breed is prone to windblows.
Latin name Abies lasiocarpa.
Area Mountains of North America.
Sizes of an adult plant A tree up to 30 m high and a trunk diameter of about 45-60 cm.
Decorativeness The view is very decorative. Its purple buds look great against the green background that the needles create.
Needle shape The needles are dull-bluish-green above, with two white stripes below, unevenly collected in rows and directed upwards. Keeps running for 9 years.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in spring.
Cones Cones are cylindrical, numerous, standing side by side, oblong, 6-10 cm long. At a young age, dark purple. Covering scales 20-25 mm wide, hidden. Ripen in August. Seeds are conical, with a shiny wing.
Soil requirements Prefers moist fertile soils.
Attitude to light The type is shade-tolerant.
Resistant to urban conditions Low.
Frost resistance Low. The plant is thermophilic.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Life span More than 300 years Lives 250-300 years.
The coniferous fir tree is an ideal plant for shady areas. They are so undemanding to the presence of light that they can successfully develop even in the most shaded conditions, but only in the presence of soils with a high degree of fertility and moderate moisture. One of distinctive features This plant differs from other conifers in that cylindrical fir cones are located on the branches straight up. Fir tree ( Abies) belongs to the Pine family (Pinaceae). The genus unites about 40 species distributed in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and only a few of them penetrate the mountain systems to Mexico and Guatemala. On this page you can find photos and descriptions of firs different types and varieties, as well as learn how to grow fir in a personal plot.
What a fir looks like: a photo and description of an evergreen tree
Fir trees are large evergreen trees, reaching a height of 60-100 m with a trunk thickness of up to 2 m. The trunk is straight, slowly clearing of branches, which persist for many years, which is why even in adult plants they are located close to the ground. The crown of a fir looks like a cone; it is formed by branches collected in whorls and arranged in tiers. The bark of most species is thin, smooth with small cracks, usually located at an angle to each other. The needles are needle-like, collected in spiral rows on a large developed base, due to which, after falling off, a round flat track remains. The needles of vegetative shoots are soft, flattened, slightly grooved above, keeled below, with two light stomatal stripes. The needles of fruiting shoots are tetrahedral with whitish stripes and stomata on all edges. Check out what the firs look like in these photos:
All "flowers" are located in the upper part of the crown. Males develop from apical buds and carry pollen, females are located in the upper part of the shoots and form cones after pollination. Cones are single erect, from ovoid-oblong to cylindrical. After ripening, the buds disintegrate down to the stem. Seeds are small winged "nuts". Below is a photo and botanical description of different types and varieties of fir. Types and varieties of fir: photo and botanical description
Abies alba- White fir.
Forms clean forests mixed with deciduous species. Grows in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. It is a slender tree 30-50 m high with a candle-shaped trunk. The branches are collected in horizontal whorls. The bark is gray, smooth, scaly on old trees. The needles are needle-like, shiny, wrinkled, serrated or double-headed at the ends. On the branches it is located comb-like and collected in rows. The needles are 2-3 cm long, the top is dark green with a bluish tint, the bottom is with two clear white stripes, which is why this species was called "white". Cones are erect, 10-14 cm long. Young cones are greenish, mature ones are brownish. In extremely harsh winters, young plants may freeze at the level of the snow cover. In adult specimens, the peak growths of the last year may freeze slightly. It has a number of rather spectacular varietal forms. When describing a fir tree of this species, it is worth noting that, unfortunately, these plants are of little use for growing in the gardens of the North-West and Central zone of Russia due to their weak frost resistance. In fairness, it should be noted that some mini-varieties can safely winter under the snow cover.
Abies amabilis- The fir is pretty.
A very beautiful tree 75-80 m high, growing in the mountain forests of North America - from British Columbia to Oregon. The crown is smooth, conical. The branches are arranged in clearly separated horizontal tiers, collected in whorls and start from the ground itself. The bark is thin, gray to white. Needles 20-30 mm long and 2 mm wide, dark green, wrinkled, with two wide white stripes below, with shortened tips. As you can see in the photo, the needles grow in rows near a fir tree of this type:
Cones are erect, ovate-pin-shaped, 10-14 cm long. In severe winters, young plants may freeze at the level of the snow cover. In adult plants, in extremely harsh winters, peak growths of the last year suffer. This type of fir has many varieties with a compact crown shape, including spherical and flattened.
Until now, this type of fir is a rather rare guest in our gardens. At the moment, we can only recommend one variety that has been tested in them for several years - this is A. amabilis Spreading Star.
Young branches are yellow-gray, partially overgrown. The needles are dark green with two white stripes below, small and thin. When rubbed, they emit a strong balsamic smell. Cones are erect, small, oblong, 5-7 cm long, purple-purple before ripening.
When planting in open places in extremely harsh winters, partial freezing of young specimens is possible at the level of snow cover. Adult plants are frost-resistant.It has many varietal varieties with a dense spherical crown shape and shortened needles. Recommended varieties of balsam fir:
Abies balsamea Eugene Gold.
Medium-sized narrow-columnar variety of balsam fir. The needles are dense, soft, golden, light green at the base of the branches. Annual growth is 15-20 cm. This variety of balsamic fir is completely frost-hardy.
Abies balsamea Jennie(synonym for WB 3).
Abies balsamea Renswoude.
Mini-variety of balsam fir. The shape is spherical. The needles are short, soft, green. The kidneys are pronounced. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Fully hardy.
Abies concolor- Single-color fir.
A slender and extremely beautiful tree with a height of 2.5-40 m, growing in the tori of Colorado. The crown of this fir is clearly pyramidal, since the lower tiers of the branches are very wide, and the upper ones are short. The branches are collected in horizontal whorls, located at a considerable distance from each other, which somewhat exposes the trunk and further emphasizes the impeccability of the crown shape. The bark is light gray, smooth in young plants, but rough in old plants. The needles are gray-green, soft, flat, sometimes sickle-shaped, 40-60 mm long. This is the only fir with blue needles. Cones are cylindrical, 7-12 cm long, greenish or slightly reddish before maturity. The degree of drought resistance is higher than that of most species. Both adults and young plants are completely frost-hardy. Has a number of spectacular varieties with white-gray and blue needles. Recommended varieties of solid fir:
Сoncolor Birthday Broom.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Dense, rounded flattened shape. The needles are long, silvery-blue. Annual growth is about 3 cm. Fully hardy.
Abies concolor Blue Saphir.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Dense, cushion shape. The needles are short, twisted, blue-blue. Annual growth is within 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Bryce Canyon.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Very dense, cushion-shaped. Pay attention to the photo - the needles of this type of fir of a single-color type of blue-green color, have the shape of a month:
Abies concolor Cimaron.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Very dense, round-oval shape. The needles are blue-gray. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Fagerhult.
Medium-sized variety of monochromatic fir. Weeping form. The needles are long, blue. Annual growth within 20 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Kresice.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Very dense, round-oval shape. The needles are blue-gray. Annual growth within 3 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Kucera.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Very dense, rounded shape. The needles are short, twisted, blue-gray. Annual growth within 3 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Nechiba.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. This type of fir has a very dense, rounded shape. The needles are short, gray-blue. Annual growth within 3 cm. Fully frost-resistant,
Abies concolor Od Maleho.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Dense, rounded flattened shape. The needles are straight, gray-green-blue. Annual growth within 5 cm, Fully frost-resistant,
Abies concolor Olesna.
Dwarf variety of monochromatic fir. Irregular branch growth. The needles are short, blue-green in color. Annual growth is within 8-10 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Osek-Topinka.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Dense, rounded flattened shape. As you can see in the photo, the needles of this variety of single-colored fir are straight, gray-blue:
Abies concolor Piedra.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Dense, rounded flattened shape. The needles are straight, gray-blue. Annual growth in the range of 4-5 cm, Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Piggelmee.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Dense, rounded flattened shape. The needles are straight, gray-blue. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Shawns Cone.
Dwarf forms. Modern variety of single-color fir. The exact size of the annual growth and the final size have not yet been established. The needles are long, deep blue, frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Winter Gold.
Medium-sized variety of monochromatic fir. Narrow pyramidal shape. The branches have a vertical direction of growth, then they fall down. The needles are long, curved. Light green in summer, golden in winter. Growths within 30 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Zabela.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Round shape. The needles are short, straight, gray-blue. Growths are 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Blue Cloac.
A pyramidal variety of one-color fir. There are also specimens that can be grown as simple forms. The needles are long, deep blue, the branches of the pyramidal forms have a vertical direction of growth, then they fall. Annual growth within 15-20 cm, Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor compacta
Dwarf variety of monochromatic fir. Pyramidal shape. The needles are long, silvery-blue. Annual growth within 10 cm, Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Hidden Lakes.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Rounded flattened shape. The needles are long, sickle-shaped, blue-gray. Annual growth is 5-7 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Igel.
Mini-variety of single-color fir. Very dense, rounded shape. The needles are short, blue-blue. Annual growth is within 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Violacea.
A full-grown variety. The pyramidal shape of a single-colored fir. The needles are long, curved on the back of the branches, deep blue in color. Annual growth is 30-50 cm, increasing with age. Fully frost resistant.
Abies concolor La Veta.
Dwarf variety of monochromatic fir. Dense, rounded shape. The needles are long, straight, blue. Annual increments are within 5-8 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies concolor Saxana.
Dwarf form. Modern variety of solid-colored fir. The exact size of the annual growth and the final size have not yet been established. The needles are long, deep blue, frost-resistant. Below you can find photos, names and descriptions of firs of other varieties.
Other types of fir: photo, name and description
Abies koreana- Korean fir.
A slender tree with a height of about 15-20 m is a growing species of Korea. The crown of this species of fir is clearly pyramidal, formed by flexible, but dense, arranged in tiers and branches collected in whorls. The bark of young trees is soft and smooth, while that of old trees is rough. The needles are glossy, dark green above and almost white below, short (10-30 mm long). They are arranged in rows very tightly. On fruiting shoots, the needles are turned upside down, making the tops appear white. Cones are erect, cylindrical, 4-7 cm long. Mature cones are violet-purple. Both adults and young plants are completely frost-hardy. It has many original varieties, most of which have inverted white needles. Recommended varieties of Korean fir:
Abies koreana Adelboden.
Korean fir mini-variety. Densely branching pyramidal shape. The needles are dense, short, dark green above, silvery below. Annual growth within 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Aurea.
A large-sized golden variety of Korean fir. Dense, pyramidal shape. The needles are light green-golden. Annual growth is 30-40 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Blauer Pfiff
A dwarf variety of Korean fir. Pyramidal shape. The needles are short, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual growth within 15 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Blue Emperor.
A very spectacular variety of Korean fir. Most often there is a pyramidal shape, less often a cushion shape. The needles are short, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual growth is within 8-10 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Bonsai Blue.
Dwarf variety. Pyramidal shape. The needles are short, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual growth within 10 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Brillant.
Mini variety. Rounded flattened shape. The needles are short, green above, bluish below. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Compacta.
Dwarf variety. Pyramidal shape, needles are short, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual growth is within 10-12 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Grubele(synonyms - Doni Tajuso, Kristalkugel, Arbor's Hexe).
Mini variety. Densely branching rounded flattened shape. The needles are dense, short, dark green above, silvery below. Annual growth within 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Kohout's Icebreaker(synonyms - Ice Breaker, Silberlocke W.B.).
Micro-variety of Korean fir. The shape is round, domed, densely branched. The needles are short, strongly curved, white and silver. Annual growth within 3-4 cm, Fully frost-resistant. Garden decoration.
Abies koreana Kohout's Nehe
Korean fir mini-variety. Very dense, spherical shape. The branches are short, the needles are small, short, dark green above, silvery below. Annual growth is within 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana oberon
A dwarf variety of Korean fir. Most often there is a pyramidal shape, less often a cushion shape. The needles are hard, short, curved, strongly pressed to the branches, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual growth within 5-8 cm, Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana pancake
Mini variety. Cushion-shaped, strongly branching, dense form. The needles are tough, short, curved, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual growth within 3-5 cm, Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Pinocchio
Mini-variety, spherical shape. The branches are short, the needles are small, short, dark green above, silvery below. The needles are tough, short, curved, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana schneestern
A rare variety of Korean fir. Narrow pyramidal, profusely branched form. The needles are tough, short, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Silver Show.
A dwarf variety of Korean fir. Pyramidal shape. The branches have a vertical direction of growth. The needles are short, strongly curved, white and silver. Annual increments are in the range of 12-15 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Silberlocke.
A medium-sized variety of Korean fir. Pyramidal shape. The branches have a vertical direction of growth. The needles are short, strongly curved, white-silver. Annual growth is within 20-25 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies koreana Taiga.
Korean fir mini-variety. Cushion-shaped, layered, rather dense. The needles are tough, short, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual growth within 3-5 cm, Fully frost-resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa- Subalpine fir.
Grows in North America: in forests from Alaska to Oregon and in the highlands of Utah and New Mexico. This fir is one of the most beautiful and elegant. Reaching a height of 30 m, it retains a dense narrow-pyramidal crown until old age. Look at the photo - the branches of this variety of fir are arranged in dense tiers, and the branches branch densely:
Young bark is smooth, silvery-gray. The needles are pale greenish-gray, 25-40 mm long, brush-like, directed upward and unevenly arranged in rows. Cones are numerous, close to each other, erect, oblong, 6-10 cm long, dark purple at a young age. In extremely harsh winters, partial freezing of young plants at the level of snow cover is possible, but mature trees are resistant to frost. It has many varietal forms with green, gray and blue needles. The shape of the crowns of cultivars is varied - from the classically pyramidal to spherical. Recommended varieties of subalpine fir:
Abies lasiocarpa Alpine Beauty.
Micro-variety of subalpine fir. Round shape. The needles are soft, green-blue. Annual increments of 2-3 cm. When describing this variety of fir, it is worth noting its full frost resistance.
Abies lasiocarpa Blue Cone.
Dwarf pyramidal variety of subalpine fir. The needles are soft, deep blue-green, with a silvery sheen. Annual growth is within 20-25 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa Compacta.
A dwarf variety of subalpine fir. Under favorable growing conditions, annual growth of 20-25 cm and the achievement of a medium-sized cultivar are possible. Dense, pyramidal shape. The needles are soft, deep silvery-blue. Fully frost resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa Cvicov.
Mini-variety of subalpine fir. Cushion shape. The needles are short, silvery blue. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa Kenwich Blue.
Medium-sized variety of subalpine fir. The needles are soft, deep blue. It is considered one of the bluest among the subalpine firs. Annual growth within 30 cm, Fully frost-resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa Kyles Alpine.
Micro-variety of subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are soft, silvery blue. Annual growth is 2-3 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa Prickly Pete
Mini-variety of subalpine fir. Cushion-shaped, tiered shape. The needles are silvery-blue, somewhat elongated, vertically directed. Annual growth is 3-5 cm. Fully hardy.
Abies lasiocarpa Toenisvorst.
Mini-variety of subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are short, gray-green-blue. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa Utah.
Mini-variety of subalpine fir. Funnel-shaped, slightly flattened shape. The needles are short, gray-green. Annual growth is 3-4 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies lasiocarpa Logan Pass (synonym for Glacier).
Micro-variety of subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are soft, green-blue. Annual increments of 2-3 cm.Fully hardy
Abies lasiocarpa Lopalpun.
Micro-variety of subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are soft, green-blue. Annual growths are 1-2 cm. Fully frost-resistant. It is considered a subalpine fir, which has one of the lowest annual growth rates.
Abies nordmanniana- Nordman's fir, or Caucasian.
One of the forest-forming species of the Caucasus. A noble, long-lived, slender tree 40-50 m high. Under favorable conditions (rich soils and high air humidity) it reaches a height of 80 m. The branches are whorled and evenly arranged, descending almost to the ground, which makes the crown acquire a clear conical shape. The bark is black and gray. The needles are dense, brush-like, dark green, 20-30 mm long and 2-2.5 mm wide, not collected in rows and hanging down. Cones are erect, greenish, resinous at a young age. In nature, Nordman fir is quite frost-hardy and in the mountains it reaches the border of the forest, approaching the alpine belt. It does not freeze in parks in Western Europe and North America. In Northern Europe, in severe winters, young plants may freeze at the level of the snow cover, and in adult trees, in extremely severe winters, the peak growths of the last year may freeze. For this reason, cultivars of this type of fir in the gardens of central Russia have not received wide distribution.There have been sporadic attempts to grow the highly decorative Golden Spreader variety.Recommended varieties of Nordman fir:
Abies nordmanniana Golden Spreader.
Dwarf. Pyramidal variety of Nordman fir. Golden shape. The needles are soft. When planted in partial shade light green-golden, and in the sun-bright golden color. Annual increments are within 10-15 cm. Conditionally frost-hardy.
Abies procera- Noble fir.
The main habitat of this fir is the western regions of North America. These tall, narrow-conical trees, up to 70 m high, grow up to 1500 m above sea level. Most of the branches are vertical. The branches of the lower tier are falling. The bark is grayish, with deep cracks and wide growths. The needles are green-blue, slightly twisted. Cylindrical purple cones up to 20 cm turn brown when ripe. Hardy enough. In recent years, cultivars of this type have increasingly begun to be grown in Russian gardens. Recommended varieties of noble fir:
Abies procera La Graciosa.
Dwarf, pyramidal variety of noble fir. Often in the early years it has a cushion-like, creeping shape. Subsequently, the leading shoot is advanced in the vertical direction, the needles are soft, gray-green. Annual growth is within 15 cm. It is frost-hardy enough, but conclusions about resistance to severe frosts in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia can be made only after longer periods of its cultivation.
Abies procera Rat Tail.
Dwarf, pyramidal variety of noble fir. At the age of 20 and older, it can reach medium size. The branches are straight, narrow. The needles are short, gray-green. Annual growths from 15 to 30 cm, Sufficiently frost-hardy, but completely conclusions about resistance to severe frosts in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia can be made only after longer periods of its cultivation,
Abies procera Sherwoodii(synonyms - Aurea, Mount Hood)
Large-sized golden variety of noble fir. Irregular pyramidal shape. The branches are somewhat vertically directed, falling at the ends. The needles are soft, slightly curved, light green-golden. At the age of 20, the annual growth is more than 30 cm. It is frost-hardy enough, but it will be possible to draw completely conclusions about its resistance to severe frosts in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia only after longer growing periods.
Abies sibirica- Siberian fir.
This classic fir is one of the main forest-forming species in the northern regions of Russia. Its range is huge - from the north-east of Russia to China. A slender tree with a straight trunk up to 30 m high.
The crown is columnar-pyramidal, formed by horizontal, widely spaced branches, collected in whorls. The bark is smooth, gray. The needles are light green, delicate, soft, up to 3 cm long.Cones are cylindrical, 5-8 cm long, bluish before maturity. Both adults and young plants are completely frost-hardy. It has a number of garden forms with a denser and more compact crown shape. In recent years, they have begun to appear in Russian gardens.
Abies sibirica Serko
Mini-variety of Siberian fir. Spherical funnel shape. The needles are soft, green-yellowish. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Fully frost-resistant.
Abies veitchii- Vich Fir.
Habitat subalpine forests at an altitude of 2500 m, on the Japanese islands of Honshu and Shikoku. Tall tree up to 25-30 m with a narrow-conical crown. The bark is smooth, gray. The branches are short, horizontally directed. The needles are flat, soft, up to 2.5 cm long. Dark green above, below with 2 white stripes. Cones are cylindrical, 5-6 cm long, bluish at a young age, later turn brown, turning brown. Recommended varieties of Vich fir:
Abies veitchii Den Langhen. Next, you will learn how to care for fir in your garden. How to care for fir: planting and farming techniques in the open field
Fir trees are extremely shade-tolerant plants. They prefer fertile loamy, slightly acidic soils, but they develop quite successfully on loose sandy loam soils. Dwarf firs should not be cultivated on overly rich soils, as they may lose their typical crown shape. Adult specimens do not need fertilization, since they have a powerful branched root system. When nursing during cultivation, young fir trees can be fed in spring after the snow has melted with complex or combined mineral fertilizer on wet ground.
Fir planting is carried out in early spring before the buds begin to bloom, or in the fall. It is undesirable to deepen the root collar. Young plants tolerate transplanting easily. Plants with actively growing shoots do not take root well. Large specimens can be transplanted only after preliminary preparation of the root ball. After planting, when caring for firs, trees need abundant watering, and with a spring transplant, spraying until rooting. Fir need to create growing conditions with a sufficient level of moisture, but they do not tolerate stagnant groundwater. Mature, well-developed plants are drought-resistant.
When planting and caring for firs in open ground keep in mind that all types are cold-tolerant, but their frost resistance is different. Most species are not able to withstand frosty winters for a long time. Mature trees are more resilient than young trees. Young summer growths often suffer from late frosts. Observing the correct agrotechnology for growing fir, when caring for trees, shelter from frost is required only for young specimens in snowless winters. The best shelter is light air-dry insulation with coniferous spruce branches. Multi-stemmed varietal firs must be sure to slightly tighten the branches - this will save them from breaking with heavy snow and losing their shape. In the spring, for a uniform awakening of plants, it is recommended to water them abundantly. This is especially important after frosty winters that freeze the soil. In many species, at the end of winter - at the beginning of spring, the apical shoots of the last year suffer. This can be avoided by covering the apical shoots with gauze. Here's how you can grow a fir from seeds.
How can you grow a fir from seeds?
Only freshly harvested seeds are suitable. If you store them in an airtight container at a temperature of 0 ... + 5ᵒC, then germination is maintained for more than 15 years, but under normal conditions it is lost after a year. Seeds freshly dropped from the cones are capable of immediate germination. Seeds with hardened covers have a dormant embryo. There are several ways to germinate seeds.The simplest is winter sowing in a ridge to a depth of 1.5-2 cm with peat mulching to a height of 1 cm.In the spring, after germination, the plants are planted by pinching the root, or left in place until autumn or next spring.Snowing. Seeds are sown in boxes in autumn or winter and brought out under the snow until spring. After the emergence of seedlings, the plants are spread out in the ridge or left in boxes until autumn. Cold stratification. At the end of winter, seeds are mixed with coarse clean, slightly damp sand, sawdust or sphagnum moss, placed in plastic bags and stored in a refrigerator or basement at a temperature of + 3 ... + 5 ° C for 1-2 months, or sown in boxes or bowls, filled with rotted sheet soil, peat and coarse sifted sand in a ratio of 3: 1: 1. After sowing, the seeds are stored under the same conditions for 1-3 months. After passing through stratification, the seeds stored in bags are washed and sown in boxes or bowls. Crops are exposed to light at a temperature of + 18 ... + 23 ° C for germination. Seedlings require protection from direct sunlight and moderate watering. Excessively dense seedlings dive. When warmth comes, the seedlings are taken out into the garden, where, after hardening, they are planted in a ridge.
Varietal varieties during seed reproduction weakly repeat the characteristic features, and it is very difficult to determine them in the first year. For propagation of varietal forms, vegetative propagation is used. The last section of the article is devoted to how to propagate fir cuttings.
How to propagate fir: methods of propagation by layering and cuttings
With the vegetative method of propagation of firs, horizontal layering does not guarantee the preservation of the typical crown shape; in the overwhelming majority of cases, lop-sided or creeping plants grow from rooted branches. With this method, firs take root within 1-2 years.Cuttings only from young varietal plants root relatively well. Even better, the roots are formed by cuttings taken from plants with a compact densely branched crown. Cuttings from "wild" species, especially from old specimens, root very poorly.For the propagation of fir cuttings, the substrate must be loose, clean and breathable. The basis is always coarse washed sand, to which perlite, high moor sour peat or finely chopped coniferous bark are added. Place the cuttings in the substrate without turning the branches upside down.
Cuttings carried out in the spring before the beginning or at the very beginning of the awakening of the buds or in the summer after the end of the first growth wave, when the young growths harden. However, in the latter case, the cuttings do not have time to form roots and hibernate only with influxes of callus, risking freezing out.Cuttings take root at a temperature of + 20 ... + 23ᵒ С. In spring grafting, before bud break, it is necessary to maintain a lower temperature - + 15 ... + 18 ° С and only then increase it to + 20 ... + 23 ° С. It is not recommended to raise the temperature above +25 ° С. To avoid overheating, boxes with cuttings should be slightly shaded from direct sunlight. The combination of moderate substrate moisture and high air humidity is the key to success.
In the spring, for rooting, take the shoots of the growth of the last year, in the summer - the hardened shoots of the current year. In columnar and narrow-pyramidal forms, only vertical, but not the most powerful shoots are cut off, in creeping varieties - everything except vertical ones; any cuttings can be removed from plants with a free, oval or spherical crown.There are frequent cases when cuttings do not form roots for 2 years, while having a thickening at the cut site - callus wound tissue. In this case, they can spend the winter in an air-dry shelter. Well-rooted plants hibernate without shelter. Cuttings rooted not in the ground, but in boxes, are dug into the ground along with boxes and covered or stored in light cold greenhouses or rooms until spring.