The tree is 30-55 (65) m tall and a trunk 1.5 m in diameter, with a cone-shaped, almost cylindrical crown in old age and a nest-shaped top. The branches are horizontally spaced, the lower ones, even in freely growing trees, die early, and the trunk is exposed from below. The bark is smooth, white-gray, often with a strong reddish tint, sometimes cracking in the lower part of the trunk after 40-50 years. Young shoots are gray and coarsely hairy. Up to 8-10 years it grows very slowly, then up to 100 years it grows quite quickly and then again slowly. The buds are ovoid, light brown, not resinous. The needles are 17-30 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, dark green on top, shiny, comb-shaped; sticking up on cone-bearing branches.
Cones are blunt-cylindrical, 10-16 (20) cm long, 3-5 cm thick, brown, seed scales are broadly kidney-shaped and pubescent on the outside; coverts, with a long protruding and backward bent tip. The seeds are 7-9 (12) mm long, yellowish, with a reddish-yellow wing twice as long. There are 15-17 (22) thousand seeds in 1 kg, fresh ones have a germination rate of 70-80% (usual germination rate is 40-60%). Fruitful years are repeated after 2-3 years, in harsh conditions after 4-6 years. Maturity from 30 years, in plantations from 50-70. Shoots with 5, less often 4-6 cotyledons appear on the 20-30th day after sowing. The root system is deep, consists of a taproot and 3-5 strong lateral roots. Lives up to 300-400 and occasionally up to 700 years.
Motherland: grows in the mountains of central, southern and partly western Europe. On the territory of the former USSR it grows wildly only in the Carpathians and separately from the general range and in small quantities in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. In the mountains it forms a belt with a lower boundary at an altitude of 300 - 1,300 m and an upper boundary at an altitude of about 2,000 m, ending with forests.
Within its range, it produces both pure and mixed plantings with various deciduous species, mainly beech. The distribution of European fir in the mountains is mainly associated with high constant air humidity and heavy precipitation, as well as mild winters and cool summers. Eastern border of the range , according to Rubner, is climatic, caused by dry air and winter frosts, to which very sensitive. Thus, in the harsh winter of 1928-1929, when the temperature dropped below -35 °C, natural and artificial plantings in Poland, Silesia, the Sudetenland and East Prussia, frost damage was severe and many even old trees died.
For good growth requires sufficiently deep, loose, moist, loamy or sandy loam soils; it grows very poorly on poor dry sandy soils and stagnantly marshy soils. Very sensitive to air smoke. In decorative terms, it is significantly inferior to Caucasian fir, having loose leaves and a trunk exposed from below, even with free growth. Therefore, we recommend breeding It’s not possible anywhere in Russia. In all cases, preference should be given to breeding Caucasian fir, the seeds of which are also much easier to obtain.
In Russia it was bred for decorative purposes. It grows and bears fruit more or less well only in the humid Transcaucasus and in the west of Ukraine and Belarus (in the area of forests with hornbeam). In St. Petersburg it grows only in protected places, reaching 5 m in height at the age of 30; often freezes. It usually freezes in Moscow; only a specimen grown from seeds obtained from the easternmost part of its natural distribution area survived and reached 3 m in height at the age of 25.
1 - cone, 2 - young cone, 3 - shoot with female spikelets, 4 - shoot with male spikelets, 5 - seed, 6 - scales, 7 - bud, 8 - needles, 9 - cross section of the needles.
White, European or comb fir ( )
Both in winter and in summer, the evergreen Fir adequately meets all the weather pranks of nature. That is why the unyielding emerald Fir was a symbol of patience, dignity and rebirth among the ancient Slavs.
Shamans made talismans from Fir that gave the owner enormous intellectual and physical strength. In addition, like many conifers, Fir was a symbol of the new year and the birth of a new life.
fir names
According to one version, the Russian word “fir” comes from the Karelian “pihka”, which means “resin”. Thanks to the resin, fir branches have an amazing fragrant aroma.
According to another version, the word comes from the Latin “Fichte”, which actually translates as “Spruce”. The Latin name "Abies" also translates to "spruce".
What does Fir look like?
Fir is a pyramidal tree with dense green needles. The branches of the Fir start from the ground itself, just like those of the Spruce.
Some types of trees reach 40 meters in height, but the diameter of the trunk remains about half a meter.
The root system consists of a central root deep into the ground and several near the surface. Thanks to this root system, Fir is incredibly stable. Even strong hurricanes cannot harm a tree.
The bark of the tree is smooth with small thickenings - nodules, which contain aromatic resin.
Where does Fir grow?
Fir is mainly distributed in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. Some species are found in Canada and Alaska. Firs are even found in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Fir is a rather demanding heat-loving tree and loves fertile, moderately moist soil. However, there are about 50 species of Fir growing in the world. The most common in Russia is Siberian Fir.
When does Fir bloom?
Fir grows slowly and in the first years of its life it gains only a few centimeters in height. Flowering occurs in spring in May.
The purple female cones ripen throughout the summer and fall in September. When all the seeds leave the cone, it completely crumbles.
The average age of Fir ranges from 300 to 400 years. The tree begins to bloom at about 60 years of age.
Medicinal properties of Fir
For medicinal purposes, bark, cones, resin, pine needles and branches are used.
Fir “paws” contain vitamin C. In addition, essential oil is extracted from them, which is a valuable component of many medicinal and cosmetic products. This oil is also extracted from tree branches.
Fir needles are capable of removing accumulated harmful substances from the body. In addition, it is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. Infusions and decoctions of pine needles are taken to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Infusion from fir needles is also an excellent immunostimulant. This is especially true in spring. This drink not only strengthens the immune system, but also calms the nervous system.
Fir cones are steamed in a water bath and used to treat rheumatism and relieve joint pain.
Application of Fir
Despite the thorny branches, fir brooms are widely used in Siberia. Fir oil is also added to shampoos to normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
For carpentry, Fir wood is not of particular interest. Due to the absence of resin in wood, it is susceptible to rotting to a greater extent than other species. However, Fir wood is the most valuable raw material for paper production.
Resonant Fir wood is used to make soundboards of various musical instruments.
Resin extracted from tree bark is used in the optical industry, medicine and perfumery.
Contraindications
When using Fir products for medical purposes, you must remember about individual intolerance to the components.
Fir oil should be used with extreme caution by nursing mothers and people with heart problems.
Before using Fir products in the treatment of any disease, you should consult your doctor.
Fir can reproduce by layering. If one of the lower branches touches the ground, it may take root and form a new tree. Elf fir is an unusual natural phenomenon.
The needles of cut Fir fall much less than the needles of Spruce, so Fir is sometimes given greater preference during the New Year holidays.
Fir cones, unlike other conifers, are located vertically.
Fir contains phytoncides, so it can be used to disinfect a room.
Firs are very sensitive to factors such as dust and smoke, so they are rarely found in cities.
Authors of illustrations: solik25, merlu , vovafritz , Nick Vasiliev (Yandex.Photos)
is an evergreen plant with a conical crown. The top of the fir starts from the base of the trunk. In mature trees, the top of the crown is rounded or notched.
The color of the periderm is gray, it is not wrinkled in most. The periderm of mature trees becomes thicker and cracks over time. Some garden species have green-gray or green-blue needles. The needles of most trees are flat, dark green in color with milky stripes below.
Fir has a pleasant pine smell. There are about forty species of fir, but not all of them are suitable for garden design, since individual plants grow up to sixty meters. The cones are located at the top of the crown. The development of buds takes decades. Fir cones fall to the ground in stiff parts. The fir root is taprooted and strong.
There are fir trees with decorative cones, these include the following types: Korean fir, Wich fir, single-color fir, Fraser fir, Siberian fir. Fir is divided into species, which, in turn, have various varieties. Below are the most popular and widespread varieties of fir.
Did you know? A distinctive feature of fir plants is the location of resin ducts in the periderm, and not in the wood.
Homeland: North America and Canada. The crown of the tree is symmetrical, dense, pin-shaped, and located low. Plant height is from 15 to 25 meters. With age, the periderm changes its color from ash-gray to red-brown, and the shoots change from ruby to red-brown. The branches are arranged in a ring shape in tiers. The needles are shiny, poisonous green, with a pronounced balsamic smell, small cones of lilac color. 
The cones are cylindrical, up to ten centimeters long. This type of fir is shade-tolerant, frost-resistant and fast-growing. The branches of the lower tier take root well. Balsam fir is represented by several decorative garden forms of such varieties as Nana and Hudsonia.
Balsam fir variety Nana is a slow-growing plant in the form of a dwarf bush. The bush is mundane, cushion-shaped, the height does not exceed fifty centimeters, and the diameter is eighty centimeters. The needles of the bush are short, ruby in color, strongly knitted, and smell pleasant. Nana is winter-hardy, but does not tolerate high temperatures and drought.
The homeland of single-color fir is the mountainous regions of the United States and northern Mexico. Trees grow up to sixty meters. The crown is wide and conical. The periderm is dense, light gray in color with oblong cracks. The needles of single-color fir are the largest among other species, their length is about six centimeters. 
The color of the needles is matte bluish-green on all sides, they are soft and have a pleasant lemon aroma. The cones are dark purple in color, their length reaches 12 cm, and their shape is oval-cylindrical. Single-color fir is a fast-growing tree that is resistant to winds, smoke, drought and frost. Lives about 350 years. Single-color fir has several decorative forms, among them popular varieties such as Violacea and Compacta.
Violacea is a lilac single-color fir. The top of the tree is wide, conical, and the height does not exceed eight meters. The needles are oblong, white and blue. This form of fir is rarely found in ornamental plantings. 
Campacta is a dwarf, slow-growing shrub with randomly placed branches. The length of the needles reaches forty centimeters, the color is blue. Just like Violaceu, it can be found very rarely.
Cephalline fir (Greek)
Cefallin fir lives in the south of Albania and Greece, in the mountains at an altitude of up to two thousand meters above sea level. The plant grows up to 35 meters in height, the diameter of the trunk reaches two meters. The crown is thick, conical, low. The periderm becomes cracked over time. The young are bare, polished to the touch, shiny, bright brown or red-brown in color. The buds are cone-shaped, resinous, red-purple in color. 
Needles up to 3.5 cm in length and no more than three millimeters wide. The tops of the needles are sharp, the needles themselves are shiny and thick, dark green at the top and pale green at the bottom. The needles are arranged in a spiral, close to each other. The cones are narrow, cylindrical, resinous, and large. At first the cones are purple in color, and as they ripen they become brownish-purple. Greek fir is drought-resistant, grows slowly, and is afraid of cold winters.
Whole leaf fir (black Manchurian)
The homeland of whole-leaved fir is the south of Primorye, Northern China and Korea. The tree grows up to 45 meters. The crown is dense, broadly pyramidal, loose, lowered to the ground. A distinctive feature of this type of fir is the color of the bark - at first it is dark gray and then black. Young seedlings have a yellow-gray periderm. The needles are dense, hard, sharp, solid. The top of the dark green needles is shiny, and the bottom is lighter. 
The needles are arranged in waves on the branches. Black Manchurian fir changes its needles every nine years. The cones are cylindrical, light brown in color, resinous, velvety pubescent. The first ten years of life it grows slowly, and then growth increases rapidly. The lifespan of a tree is 400 years. The tree is winter-hardy, shade-tolerant, wind-resistant, and requires high soil and environmental humidity.
Nordmann fir (Caucasian)
The homeland of Caucasian fir is the western Caucasus and Türkiye. Nordmann fir grows up to 60 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of up to two meters. The crown is narrow, cone-shaped, densely branched. Young plantings have a shiny light brown or yellow periderm, which turns gray over time. The young are shiny red-brown and then white-gray in color. 
The needles are dark green, dense, the bottom of the needles is silver. Rarely seen, since the tree has low winter hardiness. There are several varieties of fir for decorative cultivation: Pendula Aurea, Gtauka, Albo-spicata. 
Did you know? The lifespan of the Nordmann fir is five hundred years.
Sakhalin fir is native to Sakhalin and Japan. The plant is highly decorative, up to thirty meters high, has a smooth periderm of a dark steel color, which becomes darker as it grows. The diameter of the seedling does not exceed one meter. The branches of the wide-conical dense crown are slightly curved upward. 
The needles are soft, dark green in color, with milky stripes underneath. The length of the needles reaches four centimeters, the width is no more than two millimeters. The cones are placed vertically, the shape is cylindrical. The color of the cones is brown or black-blue, length 8 cm, diameter 3 cm. The plant is frost-resistant and requires increased moisture in the air and soil.
Subalpine fir (mountain)
Mountain fir is native to the high mountains of North America. The height does not exceed 40 meters, the trunk is 60 cm in diameter. The tops of the trees are low-growing, narrowly conical. Subalpine fir has a smooth, gray periderm covered with small cracks. The top of the needles is a matte grassy blue, and the bottom has two white stripes. The needles are attached in two rows. Subalpine fir has cylindrical cones; ripening occurs annually at the end of August. There are types of mountain fir suitable for ornamental cultivation. 
Argentea is a mountain fir with silver needles. Glauka is a subalpine fir up to 12 meters high, with a pyramid-shaped crown and elongated steel or blue needles. Compacta is a dwarf fir no more than one and a half meters in height with a wide, well-branched crown. The needles are silver-sky in color, with bluish stripes at the bottom. The shape of the needles is similar to a sickle, length is 3 cm. The needles are located tightly. Low-growing varieties are widespread among amateur gardeners. 
Important! Young fir seedlings must be covered for the winter, as they are afraid of spring frosts.
It grows in mountain ranges from one hundred to 1850 meters above sea level in the south of the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island. This type of fir was discovered in 1907. The seedling does not grow higher than 15 meters. The young are first yellow and then red, covered with thin fibers. The needles are short, shiny dark green at the top and white at the bottom. The cones are a beautiful bright blue with a purple tint. Slow growing, winter hardy. 
Varieties such as Blue Standard are widespread - tall trees with dark purple cones; Brevifolia is a tree with a rounded crown, marsh-green needles at the top and gray-white below, and small purple cones; Silberzverg is a low, slow-growing variety of fir with silver-colored needles, a rounded crown and short, densely branched branches; Piccolo is a shrub about thirty centimeters high, reaches a diameter of up to one and a half meters with a flat spreading crown, the needles are dark herbaceous in color.
Tall fir (noble)
The tall fir reaches a height of 100 meters. The homeland of noble fir is the western part of North America. The habitat is river valleys and gentle slopes near the ocean. This is practically the tallest type of fir. It has a cone-shaped crown when the seedlings are young, and as the seedling ages, the crown will become dome-shaped. Young growth has a gray-brown smooth periderm, and older seedlings have a dark brown periderm covered with oblong cracks. 
Young branches are olive-green or red-brown, in cannon. Older branches are bare. The needles are small, curved at the base. The top of the needles is shiny green and the bottom is bluish. The shape of the cones is oblong-cylindrical, length up to 12 cm, diameter 4 cm. Not ripe cones are emerald or red-brown in color, but ripe ones are dark brown-gray resinous. The lifespan of noble fir is about 250 years. The seedling grows quickly.
Did you know? The periderm, needles and buds of fir are used to make medicinal preparations. They contain essential oils and tannins.
The homeland of fir is Central Japan, its habitat is mountains. The height is about forty meters. The branches of the plant are short, located perpendicular to the trunk, the crown is pyramid-shaped. The trunk is covered with a smooth white-gray periderm. The young are covered with a pubescent periderm of gray or emerald color. 
The needles are soft, slightly curved, no more than 2.5 cm. The top of the needles is shiny dark green, the bottom is decorated with milky stripes. The length of the cones is about 7 cm. Unripe cones of a red-blue-lilac color eventually acquire a chestnut color. The plant is winter-hardy, fast-growing, and resistant to smoke.
The homeland of this fir species is North America. The height of the tree is 25 meters, the top is pyramid-shaped or conical. The young fir trunk is covered with a gray periderm, and the old trunk is red, the branches are yellow-gray. The needles are short, shiny dark green above and silvery below. The cones are short, decorative, and purplish-brown in color when mature. 
The plant is winter-hardy, but does not tolerate air pollution well. Fraser fir is used for landscaping parks, forest parks and suburban areas. There is a shrub with perpendicular placement of branches - prostrate Fraser fir.
The homeland of Siberian fir is Siberia. Rarely found in landscaping. The height of the plant does not exceed thirty meters. The crown is narrow, cone-shaped. The branches are thin, lowered to the ground. The periderm at the bottom of the trunk is cracked, at the top it is rough and dark gray. The shoots are covered with thick pile. The needles are soft, narrow and blunt at the end, up to three centimeters long.
The color of the needles is dark green shiny at the top and two parallel milky stripes at the bottom. Siberian fir changes its needles every 11 years. The cones are erect, cylindrical, initially light chestnut or light purple, and then light brown in color. The plant is winter-hardy and shade-tolerant. There is Siberian blue, white, and motley. They differ only in the color of the needles.
Important! Fir cannot be planted in absolute shade, since its crown is fully formed only with sufficient lighting.
White fir (European)
White fir is a plant that grows up to 65 meters with a trunk diameter of up to one and a half meters. The crown of the plant is cone-shaped. The periderm is white-gray with a red tint. Young European fir are green or light chestnut in color, but over time they become gray-chestnut. The needles are dark green, silvery below. The European fir is native to the countries of Central and Southern Europe. The tree grows slowly and does not like windy areas. times already
helped
Fir (Abies) the ancient Latin name of the genus is abh (i.e. to abound), which is apparently associated with strong branching and leafing of the branches. There are about 50 species of fir, common in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Firs are large, sometimes huge, reaching up to 60 m in height and 2 m in trunk diameter, monoecious evergreen trees, with a beautiful cone-shaped crown. The trunk is straight, with gray bark. The conical crown begins almost at the ground. The root system is taprooted, powerful, and goes deep into the soil.
Fir needles are flat, soft, with white stripes at the bottom, arranged spirally on the shoots, quite wide (in some species up to 3 mm), which is a distinctive feature of fir. Another characteristic feature of this genus is the upright cones, which ripen in the first year and disintegrate on the trees to release the seeds. Most species of Fir do not tolerate air pollution at all.
Fir is an unusually beautiful decorative tree with a clear pyramidal silhouette, perfect for single plantings. Excellent in park alleys, great for creating living walls.
Types of Fir, photos and descriptions of growth and preference for growing conditions:
Abies alba (white fir) 
White fir is a tall coniferous tree with a cone-shaped crown, an expressive trunk and branches arranged in whorls. By the age of 30 it reaches 15-18 m in height. The needles are dark green, flat, shiny. In youth it is shade-loving and demanding of moisture and soil. For good development, it requires sufficiently deep, loose, moist, fertile, loamy or sandy loam soils. It does not tolerate dry air and soil well, and does not grow well in marshy soils. White fir is sensitive to air pollution. Can be used in parks, but only in areas with appropriate conditions. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies alba (white fir) "Pyramidalis" 
Variety "Pyramidalis" with a regular cone-shaped crown. Initially very slow growing, after 30 years it reaches up to 5 m in height. The branches are directed at an upward angle. The needles are dark green and shiny. Abies alba "Pyramidalis" grows best in humid climates. Sensitive to frosty dry winds and early frosts. Recommended for planting near houses, in protected places. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies Arnoldiana (Arnold fir) "Jan Pawel ll" 
Arnold fir "Jan Pawel ll" is a fast-growing coniferous tree, cone-shaped, growing up to 10 m high at the age of 30. The branches are laid slightly at an angle, in regular circles. The needles are wide, shiny, greenish-yellow in color, white below, like chalk. Abies Arnoldiana "Jan Pawel ll" needs fertile and moist soils. Recommended for planting in parks and large gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies balsamea (Balsam fir) "Nana" 
The dwarf bush is round in shape, at the age of 10 years it reaches up to 0.5 m in height and approximately the same in diameter. The needles are short, dark green, and placed radially along the shoots. Needs moist, fertile soil. Recommended for rocky gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies balsamea (balsam fir) "Piccolo" 
A small compact bush, round in shape, reaching a height of about 0.3 m in 10 years and a similar diameter. The needles are short with blunt tips. Needs fairly fertile and moist soil. Recommended for alpine mountains and container compositions. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) 
A tall, fast-growing, delightful tree with a regular conical crown. The branches are located whorled and horizontal, the lower branches are lowered to the ground. At the age of 30 years it reaches about 10-12 m in height, the size of an adult tree is 20-25 (40) m in height. At home in California there are specimens up to 60 m high, 7-9 (10) m wide, trunk girth up to 3 m. Annual growth in height, in the first 10 years about 35-55 cm and 15 cm wide, then slower, lives up to 500 years. The needles are unusually long, up to 8 cm long and 2.5 mm. wide, gray-bluish-green on both sides, located asymmetrically, comb-like, sometimes crescent-shaped, soft with the smell of lemon, preserved on the tree for up to 8-10 years. The buds are green to purple at first and light brown when ripe. The root system is superficial or deep, depending on the soil. Light-loving, shade-tolerant. It develops optimally in deep, fresh, fertile, acidic or slightly alkaline, well-drained sandy-clayey soils, and grows well even in deep, dry sandy soils. Avoids clay and gley soils, like no other fir is sensitive to waterlogging. Tolerates heat, drought and insufficient air humidity, the most drought-resistant and frost-resistant fir. A distinctive feature is the endurance of urban air pollution. The species is undemanding to the soil and the environment, suitable for large gardens, urban plantings, parks, in single and group loose plantings. Winter hardiness zone 4. Has decorative forms.
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Argentea" 
A beautiful silver coniferous tree with a regular cone shape. It grows quickly, reaching 10-12 m in height after 30 years. The needles are long, soft, silver-blue. Grows well even in poor soils. Frost-resistant, drought-resistant and little sensitive to air pollution. Recommended for use in parks, gardens, and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Compacta" 
A dwarf variety with a compact but irregular wide-cone-shaped crown, at the age of 30 years about 2-3 m in height. The needles are shorter than those of the species, grayish-blue. Undemanding to soil and moisture. Recommended for single plantings in spectacular places. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Clauca" 
In all respects, the characteristics are similar to the species form, but the needles are bluish in color. Trees after 30 years reach up to 12 m in height. The needles are long and soft. Grows well even in poor soils. Resistant to low temperatures, drought and air pollution. Used for landscaping parks, large areas, and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (unicolor fir) "Violacea" 
A tree with a regular cone-shaped and dense crown, lowered to the ground. It grows especially quickly, after 30 years it reaches 10-12 m in height. The needles are long, soft, bright bluish-white. Undemanding, resistant to low temperatures, drought and air pollution. For planting in parks, gardens and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 4
Abies concolor (monochrome fir) "Wintergold" 
The variety grows a little slower than the species form, but reaches the size of a large tree, after 30 years 3-5 m in height. The annual growth is about 20 cm. The needles are long, soft, identical on both sides, yellow-green in summer, golden-yellow in winter. Undemanding, frost-resistant and smoke-gas resistant. Used for large areas and urban landscaping. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies koreana (Korean fir)
Korean fir is a slow-growing tree with a wide conical shape, reaching 3-4 m in height at the age of 30. The needles are short, green, glossy at the top, whitish on the back. A characteristic feature of the Abies koreana variety is violet-blue cones 4-7 cm long, appearing already on young trees 1-1.5 m tall. Needs moist, fertile soil. This variety is recommended for small garden plots. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies koreana (Korean fir) "Silberlocke"
A slow-growing tree, wide-conical in shape, reaching about 4 m in height at 30 years old. The needles are short, unlike the main type, strongly curved, so that the back, whitish side is visible. Forms numerous purple-blue cones. Needs fertile and moist soil. Looks good in Japanese gardens, as well as alone, in a prominent place. Winter hardiness zone 5B
Abies lasiocarpa (mountain fir) "Compacta" 
Mountain fir "Compacta" is a dwarf variety with a dense, wide-conical shape, the needles are silver-blue, short, not prickly. The branches are short and tough. At 30 years old it reaches about 3 m in height. From a distance it resembles a silver spruce. Prefers fertile and moderately moist soil. Damaged by late spring frosts. Abies lasiocarpa "Compacta" is one of the most beautiful varieties of dwarf coniferous trees. Recommended for small gardens, rocky and heather gardens. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Abies veitchii (Vich fir) 
Slender tree with a pyramidal crown. It is characterized by rapid growth, reaching more than 10 m in height at the age of 30. The shoots are located obliquely upward, making the white bottom of the needles clearly visible. Requires fertile, moist soils. One of the most sustainable types of fir. Recommended for large gardens and parks. Winter hardiness zone 5A
Fir differs from other tree species in its unusually beautiful clear silhouette, like a candle, with vertical, very decorative cones; fir is one of the most impressive coniferous plants on Earth. In gardens and parks, fir trees grow well on evenly moist, fertile soils. And of course, their full beauty is revealed only in solitaire plantings.
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Botanical name: white fir
Homeland of white fir: Carpathians, Central and Southern Europe
Lighting: shade-tolerant
Soil: fertile, fairly moist, but not swampy
Watering: moderate
Maximum tree height: 60 m
Average lifespan of a tree: 300-400 years
Landing: propagated by seeds and vegetatively (cuttings, layering, grafting)
Description of white fir with photo
White fir (lat. Abies alba) is sometimes called comb or European. This monoecious, dioecious tree of the pine family grows in pine or mixed forests. Widely cultivated as a park and ornamental plant.
The trunk of white fir reaches 2 m in diameter, in youth the tree has a sharp pyramidal crown, in middle age the crown becomes oval-pointed, the apex becomes blunt. In old age, the crown of these trees takes on a nest-like shape. The bark of this species is smooth, silver-gray. The lateral branches are directed strictly horizontally, sometimes slightly raised upward.
White fir, as can be seen in the photo, has not too long needles (up to 3 cm), with a width of 2-3 mm. The needles are located in the same plane, the needles at the ends are blunt. The color of the needles is dark green with two white stripes below.
Young fruit cones are oval-cylindrical, green in color. When ripe, they turn dark brown. With a diameter of 3-4 cm, the cones reach 10-16 cm in length. Unlike spruce, white fir cones are directed vertically upward. The seeds are quite large, reaching 1 cm in length.
White fir has a deep root system, with several strong lateral roots extending from the taproot. The tree does not tolerate dry soil and air well; it is quite frost-resistant, but freezes when the temperature drops below -25 °C.
In decorative terms, plants of this species are inferior to their Siberian and Caucasian counterparts, since their foliage is looser. In addition, over the years, the trunk of the white fir (see photo) becomes bare.
In forestry enterprises near Moscow and St. Petersburg, this breed is rarely used, as it cannot withstand winter temperatures. Widely used throughout Ukraine, in the southwestern regions of Belarus and the southern Baltic states.
During the first 10 years, white fir grows slowly, then the growth rate increases.
