Christmas Tree Fir Abies nordmanniana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-bees nord-man-ee-AY-nah
- Description
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The Caucasian fir is Native to the Caucasus mountains and northeastern Turkey. It grows at elevations of 3,000 to 7,200 feet above sea level on mountains with an annual rainfall of over 40 inches so it is best suited for a northern climate. It dislikes hot, dry summers and clay soils. The genus name is old Latin for tree. Specific epithet honors Alexander Davidovic von Nordmann, a Finnish biologist who discovered the tree in 1836.
The tree casts dense shade with branches that often reach the ground. This tree will reach 40 to 60 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide but in its native habitat can reach 200 feet tall. It prefers full sun to partial shade in acidic, fertile well-drained soil. It is easy to transplant and is one of the easier firs to grow.
The glossy green needles have two stomal bands on the undersides. The large reddish-brown cones are held upright.
Commonly grown as a commercial Christmas tree, it can be used as a specimen or for screening in the cooler summers of higher elevation areas.
Quick ID Hints:
- black-green needle color with white stripes
- smooth bark with resin blisters
- long cones, 6"
- circular leaf scars
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: None serious. Balsam woolly adelgids, bark beetles, spruce budworms, aphids, bagworms, and scale. Cankers, heart rot, root rot, needle rust, and twig blight. Intolerant of urban pollution; often damaged by deer.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- A. nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani
Mountains of northwest Turkey - A. nordmanniana subsp. nordmanniana)
Mountains of northeast Turkey - 'Golden Spreader'
Yellow needles, prostrate selection
- A. nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani
- A. nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, A. nordmanniana subsp. nordmanniana), 'Golden Spreader'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- A. nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani
Mountains of northwest Turkey - A. nordmanniana subsp. nordmanniana)
Mountains of northeast Turkey - 'Golden Spreader'
Yellow needles, prostrate selection
- A. nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani
- A. nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani, A. nordmanniana subsp. nordmanniana), 'Golden Spreader'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- nordmanniana
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Christmas trees, paper, construction
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northeastern Turkey, northern Iran, Caucasus
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Cylindrical seed cones 6 inches long, dark reddish-brown. With all firs, the cones are upright on the branches. Cone scales drop to release winged seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Black
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Flattened, glossy dark green needles (to 1.3 inches long and less than 0.1 inch thick). Needles have two white longitudinal stripes underneath. The tip of the leaf is usually blunt, often slightly notched at the tip, but can be pointed though they are not sharp. Upper needles are shorter and point forward. Needles remain on tree even after death.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Charcoal gray to red-brown smooth texture with resin blisters until it is very mature.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Needles densely cover stems. Buds are not resinous. Leaf scars are round.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
