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Abies cilicica is often confused with:
Abies nordmanniana Abies nordmanniana tree
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Abies concolor Form in Idaho
Abies fraseri Abies fraseri tree
Cedrus atlantica Cedrus atlantica bark
Abies cilicica has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Abies cilicica

Phonetic Spelling
AY-bees sil-LEH-see-kah
Description

Syrian fir is a conifer in the pine (Pinaceae) family that typically grows at 3,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation. It is native to Syria, Lebanon and Turkey in the mountains and is often found growing in rocky, well-drained, calcareous soils. The climate of this region is hot dry summers an mild moist winters.

Syrian fir is a tall, fairly narrow tree that will grow 60-80 feet tall and 16-26 feet wide with a narrowly conical crown. Trunks can reach 20 feet in diameter in the wild. This tree will grow in full sun to partial shade and will do best in cooler summer locations. 

The spiral needles have two white bands on the undersides and a light-pleasing scent. The seed cones are held upright on the branches. 

Use this tree for privacy, as a specimen or for shade.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See potential insect problems for conifers fact sheet to the left

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#shade tree#full sun tolerant#specimen#needles#conifer#privacy#showy cones#fragrant needles#partial shade tolerant#cool summers
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#shade tree#full sun tolerant#specimen#needles#conifer#privacy#showy cones#fragrant needles#partial shade tolerant#cool summers
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Abies
    Species:
    cilicica
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Ancient Egyptians used the wood to treat swelling
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
    Dimensions:
    Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 16 ft. 0 in. - 26 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Columnar
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits, produces cones. Seed cones are upright on branches cylindrical 6 to 8 inches long apex bluntly pointed scales fan-shaped, bracts hidden. Cones can be light green, light yellow, and brown. Resinous, seeds reddish-brown wing obovoid.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Description:
    No flowers
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Bright green nedles with white, longitudinal bands on the undersides are loosely arranged in a whorl. Needles can be green, light green, or blue-green.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Ashy gray, smooth becoming deeply fissured into scaly plates.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Buds are not resinous, ovoid, brown; scales keeled and free at tips. Branches are reddish to yellow-gray to olive-brown, slightly pubescent the first year then glabrous thereafter
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Woodland
    Design Feature:
    Screen/Privacy
    Shade Tree