Silver Fir Abies alba
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-bees AL-ba
- Description
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Silver fir is a large, needled evergreen in the Pinaceae (pine) family that is found growing in higher altitude forests in Europe, where it was used as a popular Christmas tree. This conifer has a long life-span and is the largest tree of the Abies genus.
Silver fir is tolerant of some shade and it prefers rich deep well-drained soil, though it grows in a wide range of pH and soil types. It forms a deep taproot and provides stability to surrounding soils. While it tolerates cold fairly well, early spring frosts can damage needles. This tree is sensitive to air pollution.
The silvery-white needles resemble teeth on a comb and add interesting contrast in the landscape, but this tree gets quite large, so be sure to have room for its mature size.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insects and fungi can attack stressed trees.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Green Spiral'
- 'Pendula'
Pendulous habit - 'Pryamidalis'
- 'Tortuosa'
- 'Green Spiral'
- 'Green Spiral', 'Pendula', 'Pryamidalis', 'Tortuosa'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Green Spiral'
- 'Pendula'
Pendulous habit - 'Pryamidalis'
- 'Tortuosa'
- 'Green Spiral'
- 'Green Spiral', 'Pendula', 'Pryamidalis', 'Tortuosa'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- alba
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Lumber used for construction and furniture.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
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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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plant has erect cones which are 4–7 inches long 1–2 inches wide with 100–200 scales containing two, winged seeds. Cones start out bronze-green and disintegrate as they turn dark brown at maturity.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has leaves that are needle-like, flattened 0.8 to 1 inch long, and 0.8 inch wide with a notch at the tip. Needles are spaced regularly along branches in two groups pointing toward the branch tip. There are two longitudinal stripes on the underside. Needles appear white or silver when viewed from afar.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Smooth
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Square
- Bark Description:
- The bark is dark gray and smooth with resin blisters and square plates when mature. The stems are scaly though.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The mature stems are gray with a scaly texture. The older stems are brown and rough. Twigs are pubescent.
