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Abies cephalonica is often confused with:
Abies nordmanniana Abies nordmanniana tree
Native alternative(s) for Abies cephalonica:
Abies fraseri Abies fraseri tree
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cedrus deodara 'Karl Fuchs' Cedrus deodara 'Karl Fuchs'
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa Cupressus macrocarpa
x Hesperotropsis leylandii × Cupressocyparis leylandii
Abies cephalonica has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Grecian fir Abies cephalonica

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
AY-bees sef-ah-LON-ih-kuh
Description

Greek Fir, a conifer that reaches a height of 80 to 110 feet, is native to the mountainous regions of Albania and Greece. It has good drought and disease resistance, but due to the large size, it is hard to use in the home landscape. The needle-like leaves are glossy green on top with two, pale blue, longitudinal stripes underneath. The pyramidal form is attractive.

It prefers fertile, slightly acidic, moist soils in full sun. This tree needs to be planted in an area accommodating its size as a meadow, park or university type-setting.

Dwarf cultivars are available.

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:
  • 'Meyer's Dwarf'
    Dwarf cultivar
  • 'Mint Tip'
    Dwarf
'Meyer's Dwarf', 'Mint Tip'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#conifer#pest resistant#needled evergreen#large spaces#evergreen tree#Christmas trees
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Meyer's Dwarf'
    Dwarf cultivar
  • 'Mint Tip'
    Dwarf
'Meyer's Dwarf', 'Mint Tip'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#conifer#pest resistant#needled evergreen#large spaces#evergreen tree#Christmas trees
  • 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
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Conical
    Erect
    Pyramidal
    Spreading
  • 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:
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • 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.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    This is conifer. It produces cones. Pollen cones ovoid and 0.5 inch long
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Prickly
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Insect Pests