Description

Abies- Fir

This mid to large evergreen shrubs and trees, makes them ideal for shurburn areas.  They prefer cool-cold climates such as Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America mountainous areas where they escape urban pollution and extreme temperatures although some varies expand into the tropics.  These fir’s has long narrow, needles that are distributed equally horizontal and laterally along the twig. Color differs mid to dark green often with grayish white bands underneath. Female cones grow erect on upper branches, which ripen over a year then release seeds. They prefer sun moist soil or soil with good moisture retention but with good drainage, neutral to alkaline soil.  The only pruning needed to be done is to remove dead twigs to insure good circulation. Prone to adelgids, bark beetles, bagworms and spruce budworms.  A wide variety of fungi cause needle blights and root rots.  Rust diseases are common.   A. forrestii – A. delavayi var. forrestii – A. delavayi var. smithii – A. georgei – Forrest Fir – This pyramidal fir reaches 70 feet tall and 20 feet wide.  Its from China and Tibet but widely grown in the west.  The needles are dark green, up to 1 ½ inch long that arch to show white bands on their undersides. The cones are egg shaped to cylindrical and 6 inches long and are purplish in color ripening to deep brown. Zones 7-9