Grecian fir Abies cephalonica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-bees sef-ah-LON-ih-kuh
- Description
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Greek fir is an evergreen conifer in the pine family (Pinaceae) that is native to the mountains of Greece. Genus name comes for Greek meaning long-lived. Specific epitaph derives from the Greek Cephallenia and refers to the largest of the Ionian islands.
This medium to large-sized tree reaches a height of 80 to 110 feet and 15-30 feet wide with a pyramidal form. It prefers fertile slightly acidic moist soil in full sun. It has good drought and disease resistance.
The spirally arranged needles have two white-blue stoma bands on the undersides and the seed cones are large up to 8 inches.
This large tree requires large spaces as a park or campus. Dwarf varieties are available. Can be used as a wind break or for screening and privacy.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See potential insects for conifers fact sheet to the left
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Meyer's Dwarf'
Dwarf cultivar - 'Mint Tip'
Dwarf
- 'Meyer's Dwarf'
- 'Meyer's Dwarf', 'Mint Tip'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Meyer's Dwarf'
Dwarf cultivar - 'Mint Tip'
Dwarf
- 'Meyer's Dwarf'
- 'Meyer's Dwarf', 'Mint Tip'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- cephalonica
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Young trees are used as Christmas trees. Wood was used as lumber in the past, but it has now become too rare.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Albania to Greece
- Dimensions:
- Height: 80 ft. 0 in. - 110 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Seed cones are 4 to 8 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, with around 200 scales, each scale bearing two seeds that are winged. Cones disintegrate at maturity, releasing the seeds. Pollen cones ovoid and 0.5 inch long
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Needle-like, flattened, 0.5 to 1 inch long by 0.1 inch wide, glossy, dark green above, two white-blue longitudinal bands of stomata underneath. Tips are usually pointed, sometimes blunt. Needles are spirally arranged.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Smooth
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Oval
- Bark Description:
- Gray-brown and smooth when young, fissured with oblong plates as it ages. Trunk diameter can reach three feet.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Scaly
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Bright brown or red-brown, smooth. Buds conical or ovoid, resinous, scales visible at the apex
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Recreational Play Area
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Insect Pests
