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James H. Schutte
Pinaceae
Abies alba
European Silver Fir, Silver Fir
The tall European silver fir reaches great heights with age. Young trees were traditionally used as Christmas trees in Central Europe before North American fir species were introduced to the market. The pyramidal young trees develop wider, more flattened canopies as they grow. They also become enormous. Populations of grand specimens exist throughout the southern mountains of Europe, from the Pyrennes eastward to the Alps and into the Caucusus.
The flattened needles of this fragrant fir are held horizontally on trees growing in partial sun and erect on those grown in full sun. They are glossy and dark green with silvery gray bands on their undersides. Small male cones of pinkish violet are produced alongside large, cylindrical female cones that turn from yellow-green to sienna. Mature trees develop plates along the otherwise smooth gray bark of the trunk.
Grow European silver fir in full to partial sun and fertile, moist, acid to neutral soil with good drainage. Trees grown in less sun attain more irregular, weeping branch habits. Plant as a large specimen tree for large, open spaces. The cultivar, 'Pyramidalis', is a denser, more narrowly pyramidal form that's better suited to manicured landscapes.
8 - 1
5 - 8
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Full Sun, Partial Sun
80'-130' / 24.4m - 39.6m
12'-20' / 3.7m - 6.1m
Europe, Southern Europe
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Clay, Loam
Medium
Average Water
Pyramidal
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
None
Green, Dark Green
Gray, Slate Gray
No
Yes
Fine
Smooth
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
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