Jesse Saylor
Family
Pinaceae
Botanical Name
ABIES holophylla
Plant Common Name
Manchurian Fir, Needle Fir
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Large in size but not as towering as many other firs grown, needle fir has rich green foliage that thickly whorls around its twigs. Becoming a tall, pyramid-like tree with spreading branches, it is native to Manchuria and Korea and extreme southeastern Siberia's (Russia). Its youngest twigs are yellow-gray in color while its smooth bark is a purplish gray to dark sandy brown that will crack into plates once the tree is very old.
The glossy medium to dark green needles are not prickly to the touch and ascend on the twigs. They are flattened and usually arranged in two horizontal rows. The male and female cones appear in mid- to late spring; female cones receive the pollen via the wind and will turn yellowish brown when ripe.
Grow needle fir in full to partial sun in a moist, cool soil that is acidic in pH. It is, however, adaptable to non-alkaline soil that is slightly dry or nutrient poor as well. Use it as a large specimen park tree that can double as a shade tree because of its spreading branches.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 5
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Plant Type
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
70'-100' / 21.3m - 30.5m
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Width
20'-30' / 6.1m - 9.1m
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Native To
Russia/Siberia, China, Korea
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Pyramidal
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
Yes
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
Yes
