Siberian Fir

Species Name

Siberian Fir (Abies Sibirica)

Seed Source

Siberia

Character

Extremely hardy and faster growing than sources from Turkestan, Mongolia or China.

Soil

Grows best on well-drained soils with some clay content. Prefers a good moist but not water-logged soil. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers slightly acid conditions down to a pH of about 5. Prefers growing on a north-facing slope.

Growth

Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm in height. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance. Hardy to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Upright branching habit and medium growth rate.

Needle

Excellent

Shade

Plants are very shade tolerant, especially when young, but growth is slower in dense shade.

Aspect

Any

Description

This tree attains an average height of 30 m and a diameter of 50 cm; it has a conical crown. Bark: gray-green, smooth, with numerous resin blisters. Buds are greenish, small and resinous. Needles are grass green, directed upwards, slender, soft, those on the lower side of the shoot horizontal, 30-40 mm long, those on the upper side 10-15 mm long, all strongly aromatic. prefers cool and moist climate; usually resistant to frost. Essential oils from its foliage are steam distilled for aromatherapy, perfumery, and related uses. The Siberian Fir grows to 100 ft. Needles are thick and long, very aromatic. Cones are blue when young, brown when mature.