Even if you ’re not a gardener , you may know the true fir tree from the popular balsam firs sold as cut trees over the holidays . This tree and other related fir trees make beautiful landscape painting plant , furnish a habitat for birds as well .
The firs ( Abies ) are in the Pine family and are promise conifers since they produce cones similar to pine Tree . Since fir tree often come from mountaintops , they prefer cooler climates as in the north . They tend to be reasonably ho-hum growing , but over clock time make stately trees . They are not for urban setting as they can be offend by air defilement .
you may tell firs from spruce usually by squeezing the needles . Those of fir are flaccid to the touch , while spruce needles are sharp - channelize and will prick .
Firs have easy culture . Give them full sun for effective ontogeny , and a moist but well - drained soil , sooner an acidulous one . attempt to quash Lucius DuBignon Clay grime . disease to watch for let in rusts and root bunk , the latter if soils stay too lactating . Pests to ascertain for admit the woolly adelgid and bark beetles that may disfigure the tree but not in earnest harm it .
The balsam fir ( balsamea ) with its rich green leaves prefers dusty climates , beinghardy to USDA zone3 ( -30 to – 40 degrees F ) . It will stand some shade and wet soils . It is native in much of eastern North America , especially the higher elevations . Although this Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree might eventually reach 75 foot gamy and 25 feet extensive , over 10 yr you might wait 10 feet gamey and six foot wide from planting a foot high seedling . This fir has very fragrant needles you could purchase in sachets , or collect when fallen from holiday Tree to make your own winter potpourri .
You often can encounter seedlings for sale in spring from preservation districts in bundles , utilitarian for wildlife habitats . I have some for this purpose , as well as for providing a backcloth in the landscape painting for flowers , and for some shade . As they arise , I thin them out each holiday for cut tree . You also may chance the ‘ Nana ’ or gnome cultivar in nurseries . This only reaches about two feet high-pitched and three feet wide , so is good in rock gardens and along make creation .
The white true fir ( concolor)also make a great cut Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for holidays , have a pyramidal shape that it retains even as a matured tree . It will eventually reach 30 to 50 feet in high spirits , and 20 to 30 feet full . likewise hardy to the balsam true fir it , however , is native to mountainsides of westerly North America and has waxy , bluish - gullible leaves . It is one of the most adaptable firs flourish in northerly zone from east to west , and under various condition including some drought , salt , and pollution .
The Fraser true fir ( fraseri ) is like to the Balsam fir , but without fragrant needles . Its shiny unripe needles have silvery bottom . Native to the Appalachian Mountains , it withstands heat up easily than the Balsam and some other firs . It , too , is a pop vacation tree and tends to hold its needles well when cut .
The Korean true fir ( koreana ) is a much smaller tree , only get to about 15 to 20 feet mellow , and one-half as wide-eyed . It is one of the least hardy firs , list as intrepid to only USDA zone4 or more often 5 ( -10 to – 20 degrees F ) . It has broad , dark - gullible needles with ashen bands underneath . Because of its compact growth , it give a dense appearance .
The Caucasian fir tree ( nordmanniana ) is a stately tree diagram when mature , growing 40 to 60 feet gamy and with dark light-green needles . aboriginal to the Caucasus as its name indicate , it has medium hardiness to the other firs of USDA zone 4 ( -20 to – 30 degrees F ) . There is golden - leaved yellow cultivar call ‘ Golden Spreader ’ that only grows to about three feet high and five feet broad .
The Veitch fir ( veitchii ) is perhaps the least unremarkably see of the firs , but makes an first-class cosmetic tree diagram for cold zona 3 climates . Native to central and southerly Japan , it has dark green needles that are white underneath . With time it can reach 50 to 75 feet high , and half as wide .
reckon tote up true fir to your landscape , if room , to provide an evergreen background for flowers , a windbreak , a visual screenland , a home ground andwinter protectionfor boo , or singly as beautiful specimen Tree .
Dr. Leonard Perry , Horticulture Professor EmeritusUniversity of Vermont12/1/16Distribution of this release is made possible by University of Vermont and Green Works — the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association .
