Types of firs and their care. Characteristics, properties of fir and its types European fir

Fir is a coniferous tree with numerous medicinal, decorative qualities, as well as technical characteristics of wood, due to which it (Fir) is widely used in many areas of human activity.

For example, both medicinal compounds and traditional varnishes for wood are produced from resin (resin extract from wood) of coniferous trees.

Coniferous wood - processed and unprocessed, is massively used in the construction of baths and saunas, residential buildings, artistic carving, etc. In landscape design, Fir and other conifers are famous for their decorative effect, the ability to remain green spaces year-round, as well as their unique quality to purify the air from harmful substances and organisms.

Fir species popular in landscaping

Considered in another article, they have many different species that grow in different climatic zones. The most famous Fir species are as follows:

• Siberian fir;
• Fir Nordman (Caucasian);
• Fir White or European comb;
• Fir Semenov;
• Fir Whole-leaved;
• White Fir;
• Fir Kamchatka;
• Fir Sakhalin;
• Myra fir.

Siberian fir grows in the north-eastern part of Russia, in Eastern Siberia, Mongolia, China. This plant belongs to the most important forest-forming species of coniferous forests.

The height of this evergreen coniferous tree is 30 m, the diameter of the trunk is up to 1.5 m. Siberian fir occupies about 95% of the entire area of ​​​​Fir forests.

Observations have shown that this plant regenerates well under the canopy of various other tree species, due to its shade tolerance.

As a beautiful ornamental plant, Siberian Fir is planted in gardens and parks.

Fir Nordmann (Caucasian) grows in the Western Caucasus, on the Black Sea coast of Russia, in Turkey - along the slopes of the Pontic Mountains. This is an evergreen coniferous tree Fir 40-50 m high. In dense forests it can also be found up to 70 m high. The tree trunk, whose diameter is 1.5-2 m, is smooth, ash-gray in color. The crown is dense, cone-shaped; low branches.

The needles are shiny, dark green. The cones are located on the branches of the tree like on a candle tree. Ripened cones crumble into pieces, while seeds and scales fall to the ground. Only a thin, sticking up, sharp rod remains on the tree.

Fir grows relatively quickly and lives up to 600-700 years; occurs by seeds, the soil for cultivation should be loamy. This shade-tolerant plant, however, can grow in well-lit areas. Often, severe frosts and late spring frosts cause damage to it.

Nordmann fir has high quality wood, the stock of which is 800-900 m3 per 1 ha, and the maximum is up to 2200 m3 per 1 ha. In the Western Caucasus, at an altitude of 1200-2000 m, they form vast, mountain meadows, often consisting of pure stands or mixed with Eastern Spruce and Beech. It is recommended to plant it in woodland and forest-steppe.

White Fir (European Comb) grows in the mountains of Central, Southern, Western Europe, in the Carpathians, in Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

This is an evergreen coniferous, highly productive tree, the height of which is 40-65 m, the diameter of the trunk is up to 2 m.

Having a whitish underside of the needles is called white. The plant is characterized by low frost resistance, so its cultivation in more northern regions is impossible.

The undergrowth of this plant is readily eaten by deer and roe deer.

Fir Semenov distributed in Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia), in the mountains of Talas Alatau and Sotkal Range. Grows on shady slopes and in gorges, at an altitude of 1350 to 2800 m; as part of mixed forests with different broad-leaved species, often with walnut. This evergreen coniferous tree is of great water conservation importance.

This tall tree (over 30 m), with a low, columnar crown, is morphologically similar to Siberian Fir, but somewhat sharply different. The needles of the Semenov Fir are longer - up to 4 cm, thick - up to 2 cm. Seed scales differ in width in a larger direction, with more gently rounded edges; also applies to the covering scales.

As for landscaping, the Semenov Fir is valued for its decorative effect, therefore it is used in the practice of landscape design and landscaping of landscape gardening areas in the Caucasus, in the Crimea and South-West Ukraine, Belarus.

Fir the largest, frost-resistant Fir of the Far East. It grows well both in dark coniferous and deciduous forests of this region. It forms both pure plantations and is a part of black-fir-broad-leaved forests. In the mountains, at an altitude of up to 500 m above sea level.

This plant is fast growing and can reach a height of up to 30 m at the age of 100 years. But at the same time, expect slow growth in the first 6, and maybe 10 years. In general, Whole-leaved Fir, according to various sources, reaches a height of 45 or 55 m, the trunk is 2 m in diameter. This coniferous tree is the largest in the Far East.

The tree has a thick, wide bark, grayish-brown in young trees, dark brown in old ones. In young trees, the bark is slightly flaky, in old trees it is deeply cracked in the longitudinal direction, and in overmature trees it is also in the transverse direction.

The needles of the whole-leaved Fir are light green on top, generally single and flat, the length of which is 2.5-4.5 cm, the width is 2-3 mm. Cones diameter - 3-4 cm, height - 6-14 cm; seed germination is about 40%, weight - 49.3 g / 1000 pieces.

White Fir distributed in the Far Eastern taiga, in mountain forests. But since its wood is quite often affected by rot, it is little exploited. Its peculiarity is that the needle ends of the branches are rich in the content of a special essential oil from which camphor is extracted.

The bark of the White Fir contains many resinous receptacles filled with a special natural balm, consisting of resin (70%) and essential oil (30%). It is used for bonding lenses in optics.

The variety, as such, differs little from the Siberian Fir, having a similar crown shape and size. Quite a decorative and fragrant breed, which is practically unable to overcome pests due to its ethereal-resinous secretions.

Fir Kamchatka (or Thin, Graceful, Graceful) grows on the banks of the Kamchatka River. It is an evergreen coniferous tree that forms unique ornamental plantings mixed with Birch, Doura Larch and Ayan Spruce.

The tree reaches a height of 15 m, the shape of its crown is oval-pyramidal, dense; smooth, gray bark. The length of the needles is 10-30 mm, the width is 1-1.5 mm, with a flat arrangement. It also differs in the small size of cones (2.5-5 cm), almost cylindrical in shape. Covering scales have a sharp end, shorter in length than seed scales (which are with dense, red pubescence).

Fir Sakhalin grows on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, often together with Ayan Spruce. The height of the tree trunk is up to 30 m, the diameter is about 1 m. The crown is sharp, dense, pyramidal in shape, with branches slightly curved upwards.

The bark of the tree, like the Blond Fir, is smooth, dark gray in color, darkens with age with the formation of numerous resin reservoirs (“nodules”) filled with fir balsam.

The needles are dark green in color, 2-4 cm long, 2 mm wide, soft, dark green in color, with white or bluish stomatal stripes on the reverse side of the needles, rounded at the top.

Cones are 5-8 cm long, 2-2.5 cm in diameter, vertical, cylindrical in shape with a rounded or obtuse apex and rounded at the base; brown or bluish black. When the cones ripen, they crumble, and only rods remain from them, which remain on the branch for another 1-2 years.

Myra Fir grows in South Sakhalin and the islands of Japan, in the southwestern part of Hokkaido. Similar to Sakhalin, so fir tree photo, see above; height - up to 35 m, has a feature in the form of an oval blunt crown, smooth until old age of the bark. The needles of Myra Fir are shorter and narrower, on cone-bearing shoots it has a rounded / notched tip with catchy looking scales bent back.

In the practice of landscaping household plots, landscape design is practically not used, mainly for dendrological gardens. This is due to the fact that Myra Fir does not have any outstanding decorative qualities, compared to the same Sakhalin Fir.

North American Fir species

In the arboretums and botanical gardens of the Black Sea coast of Russia, the Caucasus and in the Crimea, Fir species and varieties of which belong to the North American and Mediterranean species grow. These include:

• Fir Single Color;
• Noble fir;
• Fir Great;
• Fir Magnificent;
• Fir Balsam (Canadian).

Fir Single Color grows in the mountains of Western North America, as well as along river valleys and shady slopes. The height of the tree is 25-60 m, the diameter of the trunk is 40-180 cm. The crown is cone-shaped, dense in youth, low-pubescent.

The needles are bluish in color, lush, later - loose. There are garden forms of Single Color Fir with bluish-white or golden needles.

These are light-loving, winter-smoke-resistant plants. Nutritious moist soils are required for cultivation. The plant suffers from dry air. Lives up to 350 years. It is recommended to plant Fir of the same color in the Northern and Western regions of Ukraine.

Noble fir extends north from the Cascade Mountains (North America), replacing the Magnificent Fir, which grows to the Cascade Mountains. The height of the tree is 30-60 m and 50-100 cm in diameter, which has a cone-shaped, low-drooping crown, which becomes domed, highly raised when aging.

The bark of the trunk and branches of Fir is a noble gray color, darkening in old age and slightly fissured, thin, rusty-brown in places of young shoots. The needles are bluish-green in color, 25-35 mm long and about 1.5 mm wide. The top of the needles is sharp or blunt, the location is comb-like or flat; with stomata on both sides. Lives 700 years or more.

Fir cones Noble cylindrical shape, 10-20 cm long and 3-6 wide. They have covering scales bent to the bottom, which are much longer than the seed ones. Seeds are dull brown, 10-12 mm long; germination percentage - 40-50%; concentration in 1 kg - 35-43,000 pieces.

Fir Great grows in Canada, as well as in such US states as Idaho, California, Montana, Washington, Oregon. It occurs along river valleys, slopes, at an altitude of 2100 m above sea level. It grows in a humid climate near the sea, and also tolerates other (continental) conditions. It grows in mixed forests, with deciduous and other conifers. In Europe, it began to spread from 1831, where its main use was decorative, in the arrangement of landscape design, landscape gardening.

The Great Fir tree reaches a height of 35-50 m, the diameter of its trunk is 60-120 cm. The bark of the trunk of old trees is dark brown, with longitudinal cracking; in young ones it is olive-green in color, with a slight pubescence. The crown of the Great Fir is cone-shaped (in youth), domed (in maturity).

The needles of the Great Fir are dark green in color, shiny on the upper side, with white stripes on the bottom, 20-35 mm long and 2-2.5 mm wide. Cones are oval-cylindrical in shape, reach 5-11 cm in length, 2-4 cm in diameter. The number of seeds per 1 kg is 45-80 thousand. Fruiting is plentiful, in the 20th year of life. Abundant yield occurs with a period of 2-3 years. The plant itself lives 200-250 years.

Fir Magnificent grows in the western regions of the USA, at an altitude of 1400-2700 meters above sea level, in the states of California, Oregon, Nevada; forms mixed forests with other conifers. There is a similarity with the Noble Fir, but the difference is the structure of the leaves, since they have a longitudinal groove in the upper part of the Noble Fir, which is not observed in the leaves of the Magnificent Fir. The pole of the Magnificent Fir leaves are not so dense.

The height of the tree reaches 57 m, and the trunk is up to 250 cm thick. The bark of the tree is thin, grayish in color, which thickens with age, accompanied by the appearance of deep cracks and thick growths. The crown is narrow and cone-shaped, the branches in its upper part are directed upwards, in the lower - downwards. The arrangement of branches is whorled or opposite; color - yellowish brown or light yellow, with red pubescence during the first couple of years.

The needles (leaves) are 2-3.7 cm long, 2 mm thick, mostly single-row, flexible, with a camphor smell. In the middle they are pressed to the branch by 2-3 mm, they depart at the ends. Flat or trapezoid (on fruitful branches), grayish-green stripes are visible in the lower part, each of which has 4-5 stomatal lines. The upper part of the leaf is blue-green, with a palette to silver-blue, with one grayish-green stripe, sometimes diluted closer to the top. Inclusions of stomatal bands are also present in the line, in the amount of 8-13 pieces.

Magnificent Fir (male) cones are purple or red-brown when pollinated. Female - ovoid-cylindrical, 15-20 cm long, 7-10 cm thick. First purple, then yellowish / greenish-brown. The scales of the cones are 3x4 cm in size, the bracts are pressed or protrude. Seeds 15 cm long, 6 mm wide, dark reddish brown.

Fir Balsam or Canadian in Canada, it is the most important forest-forming species and a source of Canadian balsam. In addition, having unusually beautiful, decorative forms, it is used in landscaping. Balsam fir has a height of 15-25 m, the crown of its regular shape is cone-shaped, pubescent and reaches the ground. The trunk and mature branches have a gray-brown smooth bark.

The needles of the Canadian Fir are 1.5-2.5 cm long, blunt or slightly notched at the end, have a dark green shiny color in the top, with whitish stripes below. Arrangement on the branches - comb. The cones are oval-cylindrical, 5-10 cm long, 2-2.5 cm in diameter. The color of the cone at the beginning of its formation is dark purple. Canadian Fir or Balsam Fir lives 150-200 years.

In culture, this variety of Fir has a relative frost resistance, and is also a fairly gas-resistant vegetation. It grows quite well on moist alluvial and loamy soils, but rather poorly on podzolic and sandy soils. It is advisable to plant in tapeworms and in small groups.

Mediterranean Fir species

Some varieties of Fir (Mediterranean) have been adapted and able to grow both in arid and rather frosty regions of the Eurasian space. Of these, particular attention is paid to:

• Algerian fir (Numedi);
• Fir Cilician.

Fir Algerian (Numidian) - a coniferous tree that grows in Algeria, on an area of ​​​​several km2, as well as in Kabali along the northern slope of the peaks of Babor and Tababor, at altitudes of 1800-2000 m. The soil in these regions is very stony, calcareous, while the Algerian Fir lives and develops beautifully in such soils.

Coniferous foliage 15 mm long, on more healthy shoots up to 25 mm; width - 2.5 mm. Dark green in color, the needles are flat, twisted at the base, rounded or slightly pitted at the top. Young plants have pointed needles, dark green in color, with two white stripes below.

Numidian fir cones are elongated-cylindrical, blunt, reach 15-20 cm in length, 4-6 cm in width, gray-brown in color. Seed scales on top are wide, with ears, deeply pitted towards the base.

In culture, it is bred in the southern regions of Crimea, as well as in the South-West of Ukraine, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus (Sochi, Adler, Sukhumi). Cultivated Algerian Fir (Numidian) proved to be quite hardy. A 50-year-old tree reaches a height of 15 m.

Fir Cilicia , drought-resistant originates from the mountainous regions of Lebanon, Turkey, Syria. It is part of mixed forests, and can also form pure stands at an altitude of 1300-2000 m. This Fir is a slow-growing coniferous tree that prefers abundant lighting, or penumbra areas with well-drained soils.

The crown of the Fir of the Cilician pyramidal shape: narrow, branches ascending upward from the ground itself, height up to 25-35 m, trunk diameter - up to 2.1 m. The bark of the tree is smooth, ash-gray in color, over time, aging, becomes covered with cracks. The needles are dark green above, with several (2-3) rows of stomata, light green below, stomata arranged in 6-7 rows. Length - 20-40 mm, width - 1.5-3 mm.

Fir tree in the photo

Fir - a relative of spruce, a genus of monoecious evergreen trees, from 25 to 50 m high. Homeland - North America, countries of the East - China, Japan, Korea, the Far East.

When describing a fir tree, the crown deserves special attention - it is pyramidal, with one trunk-axis and branches arranged in tiers. The needles are flattened, dihedral, with stomatal stripes on the underside. Due to the wax coating, the needles appear whitish. At the top of the needles there is a notch, which is typical only for fir. The needles are attached to the branch with a disc-shaped expanded base in the form of a sucker, therefore, when it falls off, a trace in the form of a scar remains. The needles of the evergreen coniferous fir tree live without falling off for several years. The root system of fir is deep, but not branched.

At the age of 30 years and more, fir trees are decorated with cones. They appear in the upper third of the crown, are usually darker in color and stand on branches with candles.

The genus fir has more than 50 species, eight of them are found in the natural conditions of Russia. You can find photos and descriptions of fir species, especially popular in the middle lane, on this page.

Siberian fir tree in the photo

In the northeastern regions of the European part of Russia, as well as in Siberia, Siberian fir is common. In the mountains, it can rise up to 2 thousand meters above sea level. The tree is tall, with a pyramidal crown, durable - the maximum age is 200 years, but even then it dies not from old age, but from root rot.

As you can see in the photo, Siberian fir needles are narrow, 2-3 cm long:

Siberian fir needles
Siberian fir needles

The root system is deep due to the tap root, but not branched and without visible root hairs. They are replaced by fungal mycorrhiza, with which fir forms a very productive symbiosis.

The buds are resinous, the bark also abundantly secretes resin. Resin has a beneficial effect on the plant, reducing evaporation.

The winter hardiness of Siberian fir is high, which cannot be said about resistance to air pollution. She also does not like waterlogged soils, and marshy ones kill her.

All parts of Siberian fir contain volatile and non-volatile resins. Turpentine and essential oil substances are volatile, and rosin-resin substances are non-volatile. Both those and others have bactericidal properties, due to which fir trees in their youth are almost not damaged by diseases.

From the needles and young branches on an industrial scale, fir oil is extracted, which is used to make camphor. In its pure form, fir oil is widely used in medicine - for inhalation, rubbing, as a component of medicines for diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

As a heart remedy, this camphor surpasses imported ones in terms of vitamin C content and effectiveness.

Of great interest are also varieties of fir of eastern origin - from Korea, Northern China, from the Far East.

Look at the photo of Siberian fir, the description of which you could see above:

Siberian fir
Siberian fir

Caucasian fir in the photo

This plant is widely distributed, but less stable in culture. The tree is powerful, beautiful, very tall and durable. It lives up to 800 years, but, like the Siberian fir, it dies not from old age, but from fungal diseases and pests.

Caucasian fir in the photo

In culture, this species attracts the attention of breeders, they bred weeping forms, with golden needles.

When describing Caucasian fir, it is worth noting that its main drawback is that this tree often suffers from sunburn. Obviously, because the bark and branches are less protected by resinous substances than, for example, Siberian fir.

The dwarf ornamental form of Nordmann's fir is the slow-growing plant "Golden Spreader" with a spreading crown. In culture since 1961.

Pay attention to the photo of the Caucasian fir of this variety - its needles are yellow-colored on top and yellow-white below, the length of the needles is 10-25 mm, the width is 2 mm:

Caucasian fir
Caucasian fir

This is a great plant for decorating small gardens, can be used to decorate the bare trunks of other conifers, grows well in their shade.

Balsam fir in the photo

This is a North American fir that grows wild in Canada. It can grow in the Far North, in the tundra, where it forms dwarf-type thickets. She is not afraid of marshy places, near water bodies - the place for this fir is ideal.

The balsam fir coniferous tree has very fragrant dark green needles and resinous buds. The name itself speaks of the value of this pita as a balsam. They are saturated with bark, and young branches, and buds. The balm from this fir is of the best quality by international standards. It was called "Canadian balm" and is indispensable in microscopic practice for fixing anatomical sections. It is widely used in medicine as a bactericidal agent.

When describing balsam fir, one cannot fail to note its frost resistance. However, this tree is not drought-resistant, so it feels bad in the south. Dry air has a particularly negative effect, and dry winds are generally destructive for her.

As shown in the photo, balsam fir has decorative forms with white needles at the ends:

balsam fir
balsam fir

There are also miniature forms, but they are used in landscaping only in central Russia.

Fir "Nana" in the photo

Fir balsamic form "Hudsonic", or "Nana", - a short, slow-growing plant of a rounded shape, reaching only 60 cm in height. Needs acidic soil and full sun. Winter-hardy up to -40 °С. Best planted in autumn or winter. Her needles are dark green, short, glossy and thick.

In the wild, single-colored fir is a tree up to 30 m in height. Young shoots are yellowish-green, glabrous or slightly pubescent. The bark of the trunks is gray, initially smooth, then deeply fissured. Buds are spherical, yellowish, resinous.

Decorative monochrome fir in the photo

The needles are linear, 4-7 cm long, up to 2.5 mm wide, bluntly pointed or blunt at the top, narrowed towards the base. The description of the needles of a single-color fir follows from its name - the needles on both sides are one-color, gray-gray, bluish or grayish-green, dull, comb-shaped on the side shoots, somewhat curved.

Cones of decorative monochrome fir

Cones are oval-cylindrical, 8-12 cm long, 3-5 cm thick, adults are light brown, slightly resinous. Covering scales are half as long as seed scales, finely dentate along the outer edge, with a pointed end in the middle.

Seeds 10-12 mm long, wedge-shaped, light brown, with a 15-20 mm wing, ripen in October.

This is an excellent decorative fir for the garden, in addition, it is among the relatively hardy ones, which are not even so dangerous for air pollution. It is undemanding to soil and climate, propagated by seeds.

Of the dwarf forms of one-color fir, "Glauka Compacta" is very popular.. It is characterized by a dense asymmetrical crown shape and catchy gray-blue needles. This culture is suitable for larger rock gardens, it can be planted next to them, as well as placed in the middle of the lawn and in small gardens.

Look at the photo - in a single-color fir, the grayish-bluish color of the needles contrasts with the juicy green or green color of other conifers with a golden tint:

Fir "Glauka Compacta"
Fir "Glauka Compacta"

Single-flowered fir is advisable to use for the conditions of the arid south, southeast. Its homeland is North America, it grows along rivers, on shady slopes. The tree is beautiful, slender, with a waxy matte-gray crown. The needles are long - up to 5-6 cm, have the smell of lemon.

The plant is very photophilous. Extremely durable. Unpretentious in culture, grows on any soil, even saline. The tree is drought and frost resistant and is very popular in the landscaping of central Russia, because it is as beautiful as it is durable. Life span - 350 years.

As you can see in the photo, this decorative fir has shapes with silver-white needles, white-blue, golden or pale yellow, as well as dwarf and weeping:

decorative fir
decorative fir

Of great interest are also firs of eastern origin - from Korea, Northern China, from the Far East.

Korean fir as an adult, it seems too bulky for a small garden, but, nevertheless, it is quite suitable for such use. It will take many years before this plant reaches 2-4 m in height. It grows slowly. It often happens that the crown diameter of an old Korean fir is larger than the height of the entire plant.

Korean fir
Korean fir

Pay attention to the photo - this type of fir has very beautiful, dense, juicy green needles on top and white below, and most importantly, attractive purple cones that appear even on a young tree.

Dwarf fir "Silberlok" in the photo

This species has a dwarf form "Silberlock". The plant reaches only 80 cm in height - small dark green needles are white on the underside. Cones are dark red, 10 cm long, scatter seeds when ripe. Winter hardiness up to -29 °С.

Vicha fir in the photo

Vicha Fir originally from Japan. She is very unusual and decorative with her falling branches with soft, curved needles. Grows fast when young. Winter-hardy and resistant to smoke, smog, gases. But loves light and fertile soil.

Silver fir also from Japan. The tree naturally grows in the mountains. Unlike Vicha, it has resinous buds. In Russia, it successfully grows on the Black Sea coast, and in the European part it loses all its majesty, reaching a height of 20-25 m.

As shown in the photo, this type of fir in Japan is often cultivated as a bonsai, and in its natural form it is an adornment of parks, temples, castles.

Vetkhova fir- a tall species, is a slender tree, reaching 20 m in height and 4 m in crown diameter. She has thick shiny dark green needles with a silvery sheen on the underside. Every year this tree grows about 70 cm high and 20 cm wide. It is planted mainly singly in large gardens.

fir high, or gigantic- a species from North America, found in the mountains at an altitude of 2100 m above sea level, where it reaches a height of up to 100 m. Of course, in Europe it does not happen so high, but it grows successfully, being unpretentious.

fir pretty is also a powerful tree. Grows wild in North America. Its distinctive feature is long (up to 3 cm) needles with the smell of orange. Buds and young branches are resinous.

Fir trees were the decoration of gardens in ancient Greece. Several Mediterranean species are known to be of historical interest.

Fir pretty, form "Spread Star"- a tree up to 90 cm in height, with low-growing spreading branches.

Look at the photo - this variety of fir eventually forms a carpet 3-3.5 m wide:

Grows best in acidic soil and full sun. Winter-hardy down to -23 °C. Best planted in autumn or winter.

Greek fir (Parnassian), according to legend, was used to build the Trojan horse. Its feature is the spiral arrangement of needles. It grows in the mountains of Greece. We feel good in Sochi.

Spanish fir found in the limestone mountains of southern Spain at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. This is a relatively low tree, up to 25 m, very beautiful with its dense crown.

As you can see in the photo, the needles of this fir tree are short, but thick and hard, which is not typical for other fir trees:

They are arranged in a spiral, because of which there are no gaps in the crown. The species is thermophilic, frost-resistant, undemanding to soils. In landscaping it is used on the Black Sea coast and in the Crimea.

Fraser fir
Fraser fir

Fraser fir- an alien from North America, a very stable and decorative look. The tree is low, slender. The needles are short, resinous buds. The species is winter-hardy and drought-resistant, but does not tolerate urban conditions well.

subalpine fir promising for central Russia and the Chernozem region. In the wild, it is found in Alaska, where it lives high in the mountains. The tree grows very slowly, reaching 20 m in height by the age of 200. The buds are resinous, the needles are relatively long, up to 4 cm. The view is unpretentious in culture.

There is a dwarf form - "Compact", which is used when growing in containers.

Sakhalin fir
Sakhalin fir

Sakhalin fir found in the south of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands on wooded mountains. In landscaping it is used in the middle latitudes of Russia. The tree is very decorative. The correct conical shape, smooth bark, soft blunt needles - these are the main parameters of its appearance. Gives good seeds. Cones are ellipsoid, up to 7 cm long. Seeds are yellow or brown with a purple wing. It is moisture-loving, frost-resistant, although the needles freeze slightly during spring frosts, it is unpretentious in culture.

Propagation of fir seeds and cuttings

The main method of propagation of fir is by seeds. Cones ripen in the year of flowering, in early autumn (September). They must be collected as soon as the subtle divergence of the scales begins, otherwise they will crack and crumble.

It is better to sow seeds in the spring after a monthly stratification. When sowing, the land should be warm, which increases the germination of seeds and will allow you to get away from spring frosts.

Seedlings need a mandatory shade, otherwise sunburn will kill them. An equally important operation for caring for seedlings is soil mulching, which will protect the weak root system from overheating and save us from overgrowing with weeds.

Seedlings are kept in one place for 3 years. Then they are transplanted at the very beginning of autumn into growing ridges, giving a feeding area of ​​15 x 20 cm. Seedlings are transplanted so that they can take root before winter.

After another 3-4 years, fir can be planted in a permanent place with a clod of earth in early spring or early autumn.

Vegetative propagation is also possible - cuttings and layering. These methods are very time consuming, but allow you to fully preserve the individual characteristics of plants.

When propagating garden forms, the vegetative method, in particular cuttings, is preferred.

The best cuttings for propagation of fir are annual lateral shoots 7-10 cm long with small apical buds from branches of the 2nd-3rd order. They are cut off with a “heel” or broken out. Cuttings are harvested in early spring during the spring sap flow. Planted in sand to a depth of 1.5 cm, sprayed regularly, covered with polyethylene and placed in a shaded place. In the first 2-3 weeks, this regimen is maintained. Periodic ventilation is necessary, but without drafts. Roots are formed in 2-3 months.

In nature, fir is easily propagated both by seeds and vegetatively (by layering). Seeds germinate quickly even when self-sowing, and the lower branches, in contact with the ground, take root, giving numerous layering. They grow in the form of elfin when the connection with the mother plant is lost.

Decorative forms of fir are propagated by cuttings taken only from young plants.

Growing conditions and care of firs

All firs grow well in open places in single trees and in groups. They are demanding on soil and air humidity. Frost-resistant, do not endure burning, smog of urban conditions. Fir is more demanding than other conifers in terms of growing conditions. They are photophilous and only at a young age tolerate shading. Soils prefer clay-sandy, moderately moist, rich in nutrients and do not tolerate high levels of groundwater.

One of the important conditions for growing fir is a place protected from the winds and clean air, since these trees cannot stand gas pollution and smoke at all and are better suited for suburban summer cottages.

Fir - photophilous plants. In thickened and shaded plantings, they are not very decorative. The typical shape of the fir crown will be formed only in open places.

It is not necessary to form a fir crown during the growth process, but making sure that the seedlings do not have two peaks is a must. If there are two peaks, which is possible when the top is broken or damaged by pests, the weaker one must be removed, and the sooner the better.

- Abies arizonica

Birthplace: Southwestern United States, Arizona.
Description of the plant: a tree up to 15 m high. It 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 heavily suberized bark, smaller cones. The needles are notched at the top, correctly, comb-shaped, located, lighter below than those of subalpine fir, thanks to which the crown has a beautiful silvery-bluish tint. Winter hardiness: high.
Growing Features: Grow in fertile, moist, light and well-drained soils. Like other firs, it can be damaged by Hermes. Shade-tolerant.
Reproduction: seeds. Garden forms semi-woody green cuttings or grafting.
Use: for single landings and small groups. In cultivation, it is usually small and can be used for small gardens, home gardens, rock gardens, heather gardens and rocky hills.
Note: very winter-hardy, beautiful blue fir, relatively small in size. In addition to needles, the color of the bark is decorative.

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One of the main forest-forming species of North America, where it grows in the zone of coniferous forests. In the mountains it rises to the border of the forest (1500-2500 m), but more often grows in the lowlands and near drains, along with species of spruce, arborvitae, hemlock, pine and hardwoods.
When a tree reaches the age of 50-90 years, its wood is often affected by rot.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A slender tree with a regular, cone-shaped or narrow pyramidal, dense crown, descending from solitary trees to the ground. The lower branches, covered with humus, take 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 resinous nodules. Buds are spherical, resinous, with a pleasant aroma. It reacts negatively to trampling the soil and breaking off branches. The species has a superficial root system, therefore it is prone to windblow.
It grows relatively fast.

Latin name Abies balsamea.
area Canada from the Atlantic coast to Alberta; the southern border runs through the state of Minnesota and upstate New York in the United States.
Size of an adult plant A tree with a height of 15-25 m and a trunk diameter of 0.5-0.8 m.
decorative Very decorative, thanks to the numerous young dark purple buds.
needle shape Dark green, blunt, fragrant needles, shiny above, below - with two whitish stripes, 1.5-3.5 cm long. It is located on 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 in color with a purple tint, have a size of 5-8 mm. Abundant seed crops are repeated in 2-3 years. The species enters fruiting from 20-30 years.
Soil Requirements Prefers loamy moist soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
The species is quite gas resistant.
Frost resistance Kind of frost-resistant in all areas of horticulture.
Shelter for the winter
Lifespan Lives up to 150-200 years.

This species grows at an altitude of 300-2000 m above sea level, forming both pure forests and mixed with beech and spruce. White fir (European) wood is white, without resin passages, resistant to rot, dries well, splits, saws, planed and veneered, due to which it is widely used as a building and ornamental material.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is cone-shaped, almost cylindrical in old age, with a blunt nest-like apex, the bark is light gray, smooth, sometimes with a reddish tinge, cracking in the lower part with age. The trunk is well cleared of branches, the branches, slightly raised upwards, depart from the trunk almost horizontally. The kidneys are light brown, non-resinous. The deep tap root system gives this species wind resistance.

Latin name Abies alba.
area Carpathians, mountains of Central and Southern Europe.
Size of an adult plant Tree 30-60 m high and trunk diameter up to 2 m.
decorative The view is decorative due to the beautiful shape of the crown.
needle shape The needles are flat, blunt, above - dark green, shiny, below - with clearly visible two
white stripes, 2-3 cm long. It keeps on shoots for 6-9 years.
Time and form of flowering The flowering of the species begins in the spring.
cones Female cones - green, vertical, single,
formed near the ends of last year's shoots, male cones are yellow or purple, sitting alone in the axils of last year's shoot needles. Mature resinous, dark brown cones 10-16 cm long and 3-4 cm thick have an oval-cylindrical shape and a blunt top. Yellowish seeds 7-10 mm long ripen in the fall of the first year and crumble along with the scales of the cones, leaving rods on the shoots that stick out on the branches for a long time. At the time of seeding, this species enters from 20-50 years.
Soil Requirements It does not tolerate both dryness and waterlogging of the soil. Prefers to grow in moist fertile soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low: View is sensitive to smoke and gas.
Frost resistance Type of frost-resistant in the southern and middle zones of horticulture.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives up to 300-400 years.

- Abies nephrolepis

Origin: 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 cone-shaped crown. The bark in youth is light gray smooth, cracking and darkening in old trees. Young shoots are yellowish, pubescent, with a slight longitudinal striation. Kidneys are covered with thick resin in winter. The needles are 10-25 (30) mm long, dark green, shiny above, with two whitish stomatal stripes below. Cones 5-7 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide, first reddish, then dark purple, crumble in October.
Winter hardiness: high, but sometimes subject to late spring frosts.
Features of cultivation: the plant requires high humidity, does not like overdrying. Grow in deep loose, moist, loamy or sandy loamy soils. Reproduction: seeds.
Usage: for single landings, groups and alleys.
Note: close to Siberian fir, but considered less decorative (not so long needles and less beautiful crown shape) and more demanding on air humidity.

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 up to 2100 m above sea level. In the "rain" forest of Olympic National Park (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 cone-shaped, 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 occasionally be found in the botanical gardens of the Black Sea coast.

Latin name Abies grandis.
area Grows on the Pacific coast of North America.
Size of an adult plant Tree 35-90 m high and trunk diameter 80-120 cm.
decorative Crown shape, needles, cones.
needle shape Dark green needles have a tetrahedral shape.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in spring.
cones Cones 6-10 cm long.
Soil Requirements Prefers moderately moist fertile soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan 250-300 years.

- Abies magnifica

Height: up to 70 m.
Range: Sierra Nevada and Klamath mountains (California, USA); Cascade Mountains (Oregon, USA).
Habitat: coniferous forests on the steep slopes of the mountains of the temperate zone (at an altitude of 1400-2750 m).
Fir grows in the mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere and forms both pure forest stands (fir forests) and mixed forests with other coniferous species. 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. Thick branches extend from the straight trunk in whorls, sometimes reaching the very ground. The narrow cone-shaped crown gives the tree a strict, solemn look. Some magnificent fir trees are over 600 years old, and their trunk diameter reaches 2 m. On low mountain slopes, these trees grow very quickly and provide excellent construction wood. Slightly curved needles are located on the branches of fir, magnificent like bristles of a toothbrush. The young needles of the tree are silver-blue in color, and its cones reach a length of 23 cm - these are the largest cones of all types of fir.

Wicha fir grows naturally 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 are made from it due to the fact that Wicha fir wood has good resonant properties.
Phytoncides secreted by this tree purify the air from bacteria.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
Slender tree with short, horizontal branches forming a loose, pyramidal crown. The bark on the trunks is grayish and smooth, even on older trees. The kidneys are small, rounded, with abundant lubrication with vitreous resin.
In youth, it is characterized by rapid growth. Being a very decorative species, Vicha fir can be used for landscaping in the western regions of the European part of Russia.

Latin name Abies veitchii.
area Mountains of Japan.
Size of an adult plant Tree up to 30-40 m high.
decorative
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, dark green above, with clearly visible white stripes below. This gives the tree a silvery-white tint in windy weather.
Time and form of flowering The species blooms in spring.
cones Cones up to 7 cm long, purple-purple when young, later brown scales broadly cylindrical, 6-7 cm long. Seeds yellowish, with a short wing.
Soil Requirements Prefers to grow in fertile soils.
Attitude towards light The view is demanding of light.
Urban resistance More than other species resistant to smoke and gases.
Frost resistance Frost-resistant type.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives 200-300 years.

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The range of Spanish fir in the XX century. greatly reduced. It can be found in the southern part of Spain and in some parts 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 pure stands or plantations with an admixture of Atlantic cedar, oak, pine and juniper.
The soft wood of Spanish fir is used to make boxes, pulp, and also for fuel, and fir oil is extracted from its needles.
Recent studies related to 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, cone-shaped, low lowered, with horizontally arranged branches. The bark is dark gray, smooth, becoming cracked with age. Young shoots are bare, 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, dark green, shiny above, lighter below, with two whitish stripes. Cones 2.5-5 cm long, almost cylindrical.
Winter hardiness: high. Promising for breeding in northern latitudes, where other firs cannot withstand frost and short summers.
Features of cultivation: grows very slowly both in nature and in culture.
Reproduction: seeds.
Use: 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 cover scales and the shape of the seed wing.

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FEATURES OF THE VIEW
This species has a rough bark. Its young yellowish shoots are covered with fine hairs. Later they acquire a reddish tint.
Korean fir is filled with grace and charm. Already at a young age, she begins to bear fruit abundantly. Gorgeous, upward pointing purple-purple buds against a backdrop of 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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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 becoming brownish-brown and glabrous. Kidneys do not contain resin, slightly pubescent. The species is wind-resistant due to the developed root system.
Nordmann fir grows rapidly and retains growth until old age.

Latin name Abies normanniana.
area Western part of the Main Caucasian Range, Türkiye.
Size of an adult plant Powerful tree up to 50-70 m high and trunk diameter up to 2 m.
decorative The view 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 appears silvery in the wind. The needles remain on the tree for 9-13 years.
Time and form of flowering It blooms in early May, male cones are reddish, young female cones are slightly convex laterally, at first they have a greenish color.
cones The cones are oval-cylindrical, 12-20 cm long and 4-5 cm in diameter. After maturation, they become brownish-brown and resinous, with long, sharp endings bent back.
Soil Requirements The species is demanding on air humidity, prefers fresh, deep loams with an admixture of chernozem. However, it can also grow on calcareous soils.
Attitude towards light The species is exceptionally shade-tolerant, but grows well in lighted places.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance The species is moderately hardy. Withstands short-term temperature drops down to -25°.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan The species is durable, lives up to 500-800 years.

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This species is native to North America. Single-color fir plantations are usually
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 monochromatic fir is grown in the central and northwestern regions. Forms with bluish and silver needles are especially popular with gardeners, which can decorate any personal plot.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A large tree with a dense, cone-shaped, low-drooping crown, which becomes rarer with age. The branches are horizontal. The thick ash-gray bark has deep longitudinal cracks. 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.
Significantly benefit from single and group plantings, which are located against the background of larches, 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.
Size of an adult plant A tree 40-50 m high and with a trunk diameter of 1-1.5 m.
decorative One of the most decorative types of fir.
needle shape Narrow soft needles, 5-8 m long, have a lemon smell. 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 in dry sandy soils.
Attitude towards light It is the most light-loving species.
Urban resistance It tolerates smoke and gas pollution well.
Frost resistance Type of frost-resistant in the southern and middle zone of gardening.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives up to 350 years.

The name of this species refers to the structure of its grayish-pink bark, which becomes scaly with age.
In natural plantations, the equal scale fir 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 stands.
The soft and light wood of the equal scale fir is valued 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 horizontally arranged 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 gardening zones.

Latin name Abies homolepis.
area Mountains of Japan.
Size of an adult plant A tree with a height of 25-40 m and a crown diameter of 1-5 m.
decorative Crown shape, beautiful bark and needles.
needle shape The needles are 1-3 cm long and 1-3 cm wide, dark green above and bluish below.
Time and form of flowering The flowering of the species occurs in May. Male cones, 1.4 cm long and 7 mm wide, are egg-shaped. 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 towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance Type of frost-resistant in the southern and middle zone of gardening.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan 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. The kidneys are small, oval-ovoid, densely resinous. The needles are 18-40 mm long, soft, with a rounded or weakly eminent apex, sharp on cone-bearing shoots; above - dark green, below - with two whitish stripes, located densely and flat. Cones 5-8 cm long.
Winter hardiness: high.
Features of cultivation: exacting to air humidity.
Reproduction: seeds.
Use: perfect for solitary, group and avenue plantings.
Note: quite valuable in terms of forestry, as it is relatively little susceptible 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 great demand and is widely used in the construction and aviation industries in the United States. Sometimes lumberjacks passed it off as the wood of other trees in order to avoid fines for the extermination of this valuable tree species.
In addition, silver fir accounts for 12% of the total Christmas tree sales in the northwestern United States due to its decorative effect.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
It has a slender, narrow, cone-shaped crown. The species prefers humid and warm climates.
Differs in 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, in Russia they are found infrequently.

Latin name abies procera,
area It is found naturally along the Pacific coast of North America.
Size of an adult plant A tree up to 80 m high and with a trunk diameter of 220 cm.
decorative Crown shape, needles.
needle shape The needles are soft and flat, 1-3 cm long and 0.2 cm wide. It has a pungent aroma, vaguely reminiscent of the smell of turpentine.
Time and form of flowering Flowering species begins in May. The female cones are at the top of the crown, while the male ones are just below. The development of male cones directly depends on the ambient temperature and humidity.
cones The formation of the cone 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 towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance Low. The species is thermophilic.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Over 300 years

- Abies nebrodensis
Tree up to 15 m high, with a pyramidal, dark green crown, slightly squat; trunk - straight or slightly curved. The needles spirally cover the twigs, 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. The male spikelets are densely flanked and 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 apex is conical; scales bent downwards are strongly distinguished.
ORIGIN. The endemic tree of the town of Madonie in the territory of Polizzi Generosa (Angel Valley), where no more than thirty copies grow, is all that remains of the disappeared forests that once grew here. In Italy, in addition to individual specimens that grow wild in Madonia, where they can be admired, there are artificial plantings in different places 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 limit of holm oaks and beech forests; it has quite hot and dry summers, and in winter there is a lot of snow and no very low temperatures have been recorded. Now the place of the former forest is occupied by thickets that have grown on the site of the destroyed trees - with them they share the former habitat of the "Sicilian fir". The tree is under protection, as this species is listed in the international Red Book.
SIMILAR TYPES. Numidian or Algerian fir (Abies numidica) usually considered a twin of the Sicilian fir, but some scientists believe that species similar to it should be sought in "Greek fir" (Abies cephalonica), which are indeed very similar to nebrodensis. The Numidian fir has the same trunk and short needles, but the cones do not have prominent scales, while the Greek fir is slender and majestic, with long and prickly 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 the Engelman spruce. The needles of this tree have a wonderful aroma.
In culture, subalpine fir has been supported since 1863. It is best cultivated in regions with a humid and warm climate. As a valuable ornamental species, 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 shape.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is narrow-conical, stunted in the alpine zone. The young bark is smooth, silvery-gray, later grayish-brown, with a crust. Young branches are ash-gray, shortly pubescent, rarely glabrous. 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.
Size of an adult plant A tree up to 30 m high and with a trunk diameter of about 45-60 cm.
decorative The look 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. Stays on the run for 9 years.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in spring.
cones Cones are cylindrical, numerous, side by side, oblong, 6-10 cm long. Dark purple at a young age. Covering scales 20-25 mm wide, hidden. Ripen in August. Seeds are cone-shaped, with a shiny wing.
Soil Requirements Prefers moist fertile soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant type.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance Low. The plant is thermophilic.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan More than 300 years Lives 250-300 years.

Botanical name: white fir

Homeland of white fir: Carpathians, Central and Southern Europe

Lighting: shade-tolerant

Soil: fertile, sufficiently moist, but not swampy

Watering: moderate

Maximum tree height: 60 m

Average lifespan of a tree: 300-400 years

Landing: propagated by seeds and vegetatively (cuttings, layering, grafting)

Description of white fir with a photo

White fir (lat. Abies alba) is sometimes called comb or European. This monoecious, dioecious tree of the pine family grows in pine or mixed forests. It is widely cultivated as a park and ornamental plant.

The trunk of white fir reaches 2 m in diameter, in youth the tree has an acute pyramidal crown, in middle age the crown becomes oval-pointed, the top becomes dull. In old age, the crown of these trees acquires a nest-like shape. The bark of this species is smooth, silvery-gray. Lateral branches are directed strictly horizontally, sometimes slightly raised upwards.

White fir, as seen in the photo, has not too long needles (up to 3 cm), with a width of 2-3 mm. The needles are located in the same plane, the needles are blunt at the ends. The color of the needles is dark green with two white stripes below.

Young fruit cones are oval-cylindrical, green in color. When ripe, they become dark brown. With a diameter of 3-4 cm, the cones reach 10-16 cm in length. Unlike spruce, white fir cones are directed vertically upwards. The seeds are quite large, reaching 1 cm in length.

White fir has a deep root system, several strong lateral roots depart from the tap root. The tree does not tolerate dry soil and air, it is quite frost-resistant, but when the temperature drops below -25 ° C, it freezes.

In decorative terms, plants of this species are inferior to their Siberian and Caucasian counterparts, since their needles are more loose. In addition, over the years, the trunk of white fir (see photo) becomes bare.

In the Moscow region and St. Petersburg forestry, this breed is rarely used, as it does not withstand winter temperatures. It is widely used throughout Ukraine, in the southwestern regions of Belarus and in the south of the Baltic states.

The first 10 years, white fir grows slowly, then the growth rate increases.

And in winter and summer, the evergreen Fir adequately meets all the weather pranks of nature. That is why the adamant emerald Fir among the ancient Slavs was a symbol of patience, dignity and rebirth.

Shamans made talismans from Fir, giving the owner tremendous intellectual and physical strength. In addition, like many conifers, Fir was a symbol of the new year and the birth of a new life.

fir names

According to one version, the Russian word "fir" comes from the Karelian "pihka", which means "resin". Thanks to resin, Fir branches have an amazing fragrant aroma.

According to another version, the word comes from the Latin "Fichte", which actually translates as "Spruce". The Latin name "Abies" also translates as "spruce".

What does fir look like

Fir is a pyramidal tree with dense green needles. The branches of the Fir start from the ground itself, like that of the Spruce.

Some types of tree reach 40 meters in height, but the diameter of the trunk remains about half a meter.

The root system consists of a central root deep into the ground and several near the surface. Thanks to this root system, Fir is incredibly stable. Even strong hurricanes are not capable of harming a tree.

The bark of the tree is smooth with small thickenings - nodules, which contain fragrant resin.

Where fir grows

Fir is mainly distributed in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. Some species are found in Canada and Alaska. Fir trees are even found in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Fir is a fairly demanding heat-loving tree and loves fertile, moderately moist soil. However, there are about 50 species of Fir growing in the world. The most common in Russia is the Siberian Fir.

When the fir blossoms

Fir grows slowly and in the first years of life adds only a few centimeters in height. Flowering occurs in spring in May.

Purple female cones ripen throughout the summer and fall off in September. When all the seeds leave the cone, it completely crumbles.

The average age of the Fir ranges from 300 to 400 years. The tree begins to bloom at about 60 years of age.

Medicinal properties of fir

For medical purposes, bark, cones, resin, needles and branches are used.

Fir "legs" contain vitamin C. In addition, essential oil is extracted from them, which is a valuable component of many medicinal and cosmetic products. This oil is also extracted from the branches of the tree.

Fir needles are able to remove accumulated harmful substances from the body. In addition, it is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Infusions and decoctions of pine needles are taken to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Fir needles infusion is also an excellent immunostimulating agent. This is especially true in the spring. This drink not only strengthens the immune system, but also calms the nervous system.

Fir cones are steamed in a water bath and used to treat rheumatism and to eliminate joint pain.

Application of Fir

Despite the thorny branches, fir brooms are widely used in Siberia. Fir oil is also added to shampoos to normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands.

For carpentry, Fir wood is not of particular interest. Due to the lack of resin in wood, it is more prone to decay than other species. However, Fir wood is the most valuable raw material for paper production.

Resonant Fir wood is used to make the soundboards of various musical instruments.

Resin, extracted from the bark of a tree, is used in the optical industry, medicine and perfumery.

Contraindications

When using Fir products for medical purposes, it is necessary to remember about the individual intolerance of the components.

Fir oil should be used with extreme caution by nursing mothers and people with heart problems.

Before using Fir products in the treatment of any disease, you should consult your doctor.

Fir can be propagated by layering. If one of the lower branches touches the ground, it can take root and form a new tree. Fir elfin is an unusual natural phenomenon.

Cut Fir needles fall much less than Spruce needles, so Fir is sometimes given more preference on New Year's holidays.

Fir cones, unlike other conifers, are located vertically.

Fir contains phytoncides, so it can be used to disinfect a room.

Fir trees are very sensitive to factors such as dust and smoke, so they are rarely found in cities.

Illustrations by: solik25 , merlu , vovafritz , Nick Vasiliev (Yandex. Photos)