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. magnifica – California Red – Red Fir –Native to southern Oregon and northern California, it’s a columnar shape tree with reddish bark. In the wild it can grow to 200’ feet tall but in cultivation it normal reaches 120’ feet tall and 20’ wide.  The needles are narrow blunt tip that curve up and are deep blue green with a gray banding underneath.  Cones are cylindrical shape 8” inches long and are bluish purple ripening to pale brown.  Thrive in moist climate but is shorter lived then other firs. Zones 5-9