The best varieties of fir

Fir could rightfully take first place in the beauty contest of coniferous perennial plants. A fluffy fur coat, upright candlesticks with cones - all this makes her a welcome guest in many suburban areas. Korean fir strikes the imagination with the incredible color of the cones. But getting this beauty requires proper care. Since this tree is considered an aristocrat among the pine family.

Aristocratic family

Silberlock fir (Korean) is loved by gardeners because it does not grow quickly and practically does not need pruning. Its branches and tops form natural beautiful weaves. It tolerates the absence of heat and light well. It can coexist with other trees, but it also looks great as a separate garden decoration.

Varieties of Korean spruce:

• molly - has a perfectly flat trunk, excellent crown. That allows you to use it as a hedge. Needs good lighting. In the absence of light, the branches are strongly stretched, the aesthetic appearance is disturbed;
• diamond is a rare and valuable species of bonsai. After 10 years of life, its height rarely exceeds 40 cm. Therefore, this variety is actively used to create alpine slides. The plant does not like strong wind and shade.

It is better to take all varieties of these trees for planting with developed seedlings. The plant should be planted in March or September. The soil is acidic, well-drained and moderately moist.

The most popular fir for landscape design

Purple-violet decorative cones, green-white needles - this is how balsam fir looks like. This variety is very resistant to frost, famous for its healing power. It has a kind of needles, which are divided into an even parting.

The plant prefers shade, does not take root in hot climates, needs moist and loose soil. This variety has many dwarf varieties:

• piccolo - branches are located radially, slightly deviate downward. The gray needles have a green tint;
• kiwi - an interesting blue-green color of the needles will make this tree a decoration of any garden;
• hudzonia - has a wide crown and dense branches. Supertree of dark green color, with a shade of black. Downward, the needles become bluish-green;
• nana is the most shade-tolerant and frost-resistant variety.Suitable for decorating a rocky garden variety.

The single-color fir is a tall and luxurious representative of the pine family. Has a dense crown formed by a pyramid, branches grow parallel to the ground. The decorative variety (blue) is distinguished by the silvery color of the needles. It is this variety that is highly revered by landscape designers. The frost-resistant subspecies of the one-color fir is the most resistant to pests.

Decorative forms:

• violet violacea - needles are long and large, blue-white. Can be planted singly or in small groups. It tolerates smoky air well, is not afraid of frost and drought;
• compact - a dwarf hybrid fir in the form of a bush, branches are unevenly spread.

Russian beauty

Siberian fir has been known since childhood. This type of coniferous tree is found almost throughout the territory of Russia. They can be found even in the mountains, but there these trees are somewhat lower.

Siberian fir is one of the most important forest-forming species. Dislikes poor soil and wetlands, tolerates cold well. It is difficult to breed it in large cities, since it withers away from the dirty air.

Fir does not need constant sunlight. The very same gives a very thick shade, under which only a few species of grasses and moss can survive.

Siberian fir, a photo of which is often found in biology textbooks, is a monoecious plant. Yellow, oval spikelets are male. They have flying bubbles, thanks to which they can fly over great distances. At the beginning of June, male spikelets disappear.

Dark red spikelets are female. Cones develop on them, which stand like candles. The mature bud is light brown in color and cylindrical in shape.

The seeds ripen in late summer - early autumn. But fir can also reproduce vegetatively. Dry branches do not lose their needles, as is the case with spruce.

Siberian fir has many useful properties; it is used for the production of paper, cellulose, and musical instruments.

Glasses in optical devices are glued with fir balsam.

In medicine, fir needles are used, which are rich in vitamin C. It can be harvested all year round. But the maximum amount of ascorbic acid is found in spring needles.

Danish charm

Nordman's fir is distinguished by its extraordinary decorativeness, dense needles and a tart aroma. She can often be seen in American Christmas films. Its other name is Caucasian fir.

It is hard to believe that nature itself created such uniformly fluffy branches and a perfect crown. For a long time, only aristocrats could afford this tree. Now everyone can grow such a miracle in the garden.

The needles of this fir are rounded, soft and completely thornless. Danish fir cones appear after the first year of life, which gives young firs a special piquancy. The fruits of this fir are bright and large, with a color ranging from light brown to purple.

It is better to plant the Caucasian fir in September or April, it should be warm and cloudy outside. Wet, nutritious soil is suitable for her. This coniferous tree does not tolerate drought and excessive moisture.

When choosing a location, it should be borne in mind that this fir is not afraid of winds, but suffers from polluted air. Caucasian fir does not like being transplanted. It grows rapidly in its natural environment. Cultivated varieties can grow by 15 cm per year.

When choosing seedlings, preference should be given to grown trees (5-6 years old). Young fir must be kept in an individual container. A bare root system can lead to the rapid death of the plant.

Timely care is important for young specimens:

• regular watering;
• weed control;
• protection against pests.

Fortified fir does not need such careful care.

North American discovery

The Fraser fir owes its popularity to botanists from Scotland. This tree is not very popular in Russia.But American residents are very fond of the Fraser fir, and often decorate it at Christmas.

This fir is often confused with balsamic, as it also emits bubbles of resin. The Fraser fir lives high in the mountains and is resistant to low temperatures.

See also: What does a fir look like

The tree is slender, elegant, not very tall. The crown is conical, very dense in young specimens. The branches are straight, or at a slight angle to the trunk. With age, the tree acquires lightness and airiness due to the large gaps between the branches.

This fir has unusual needles - short, flat, almost thornless, arranged spirally.

This plant is very demanding in care. The soil must be constantly drained, fed, and moistened. Fir is not adapted to survival in urban conditions. But it takes root well in gardens and parks.

It can grow in a group with larch, pine and birch. Development does not suffer even with a single landing.

Care rules:

• after planting, it is necessary to illuminate the seedling well, this will help the crown to form correctly;
• it is required to cut off the buds of lateral shoots in the fall;
• in the spring, you should free the fir from frozen and dry branches, apply complex mineral fertilizers;
• in the heat, you need to spray every 2-3 days;
• mature plants cannot be transplanted.

Carpathian healer

White fir is known for its medicinal properties. Its woody greens are used to obtain essential oils and medicinal camphor. In ancient times, this tree was considered sacred. The Carpathians and the mountains of Central and Southern Europe are considered her home.

This plant belongs to monoecious, dioecious. Possesses good decorative properties.

Young plants have a crown in the form of a pyramid. By the middle of life, the tree takes on a more rounded shape. In the old, the interlacing of the branches resembles a nest. The trunk is smooth, with a silvery-white bark. Feet are horizontally positioned, can be slightly raised.

This representative of the pine family has not too long needles. The needles are dark green, with a slight white tint.

Young fruit cones have an oval, cylindrical shape, bright green color. As it ripens, the color changes, dark brown tones appear. The seeds are large, ripen in the fall of the first year of life.

The tree has a good root system. It does not like dry soil and air. It tolerates frost well, but with a strong drop in temperature it can freeze over. It can live in the shade, but dies in highly polluted air.

It is rarely used to decorate the landscape, since it loses to its counterparts in aesthetic parameters. For planting, it is better to use cuttings.

Guest from Alaska

Subalpine fir (rough-fruited) lives high in the mountains, therefore it grows slowly. Adult specimens do not differ in their high height and trunk thickness. The crown of the tree is narrow, resembling a wedge.

It grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Can tolerate excessive moisture, heavy snowfalls.

The needles are prickly, silvery-gray, becoming bluish-green with age. Rounded buds contain a lot of resin.

The tree is suitable for the formation of alleys, helps to purify the air. Looks good both in groups and singly. It is able to recover from damage, but can acquire several peaks. No pruning required, the crown is formed naturally. Before the juice begins to move, you can make sanitary pruning by removing unnecessary branches.

For the garden, lawn decoration, you can purchase a dwarf variety of subalpine pine - compact. This plant reaches a height of 1.5 m, has a wide conical crown. The paws are beautiful, thick, with beautiful blue-gray needles. To create a beautiful shape in the fall, you need to pluck out the central buds from the lateral processes, in the summer to shorten the branches. When planting, you must choose a place protected from direct sunlight.

Planting is carried out in early spring or late summer.It is necessary to carry out constant treatment against fungal diseases. It is necessary to feed young seedlings, adult pines do not need feeding. In severe drought, the number of watering should be increased, sprinkling should be carried out.

A variety of decorative firs, the photo of which pleases the eye, will help create a cozy atmosphere in any garden. Coniferous trees are unpretentious to care for, live long, fill the air with a beneficial aroma. And for the New Year there will always be its own, the most beautiful tree.

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Korean fir is green all the time and lives for a very long time without additional pruning and crown formation. Belongs to the fir family, home to the south of the Korean Peninsula. Hence its name. The shape of the plant resembles a pyramid (cone). The tree can even live up to 150 years.

You can find her in the Northern Hemisphere and South Korea. Its growth rate is much slower than that of spruce, on average, an increase of 3-5 centimeters every year.

Description of species: leaves in the form of flat needles, 1-2 centimeters long and 2-2.5 millimeters thick, a shiny greenish tint in the upper part, and with two stripes of a bright white shade in the lower part, with a small number of teeth at the tip. Her buds can be from blue to purple. Their size, for the most part, is 4-7 centimeters in length and up to 2 centimeters in width.

It is very hardy and grows well in both sunny and shaded areas, but it thrives best when exposed to direct sunlight, as its crown becomes more attractive. Reproduction by seeds and by cuttings is acceptable.

The fir of this species grows up to 10-18 meters in height with a trunk diameter of up to 70 centimeters. Korean fir varieties for landscaping include several species that have the greatest pomp and excellent decorative properties throughout the calendar year.

Look at the photo of some varieties of Korean fir, which perfectly decorate personal plots in various zones:

Description and photos of varieties of Korean fir

A brief description of the varieties of Korean fir allows you to make the right choice, and the photos will illustrate the external aesthetic properties.

Korean fir "Brilliant" and "Silberlocke".

The Korean fir "Brilliant" is a very valuable plant, as it is not an artificial, but a natural dwarf. The dwarf variety feels great in containers, this plant has a neat cushion-shaped crown.

Its needles are short, but they have signs of density and softness. The needles are shiny, painted in the upper part with dark green or bright green, and in the lower part - white-blue or silver longitudinal stripes. The needles of this variety of Korean fir are quite aromatized, the edges are wrapped to the bottom and reach two centimeters in length.

This is a slow growing tree, it grows three to four centimeters in length per year. And at 10 years old, the height is only 40 centimeters with a width of 60 centimeters. This dwarf plant can even live up to 300 years.

To plant it, it is advisable to choose semi-shaded or sunny places for it, while calm. It is recommended to place young plants in partial shade, and hide from the sun in spring and summer. It is better to choose a slightly acidic soil for planting, with equipped drainage. Fir is sufficiently cold-resistant. A temperature of minus 29 degrees is not terrible for her.

The Korean fir "Silberlock" has a cone-shaped crown, often with several peaks. At the age of 10 years, it grows in length to 120-180 centimeters. Its needles are bent, their lower part is white.

This is a slow-growing fir, as it has too curved needles, which, if you look at it from a distance, appear silvery.Hence, this type of fir got its name - "silberblocke" means "silver curl". In some cases, it may appear that the tree is covered with frost. The cones of this variety of Korean fir are purple, cone-shaped, 7 centimeters long.

Prefers acidic soil, with a small amount of alkali. Loves light, but, in turn, shade-tolerant. Cold hardy plant. During snowy winter periods, due to snow adhering to the branches, they can break, therefore a retaining frame should be installed.

Korean fir "Molli" and "Blue Magic"

The Korean fir "Molly" can grow up to seven meters in length with a three-meter crown. Trees of this variety are sprinkled with cones in large quantities. They have a blue-violet hue. Their length is 5 centimeters.

It grows rather slowly. For a year - 6-7 centimeters adds, no more. The trunk is straight and straight. The crown has a conical shape and does not require trimming, since it is initially self-formed in the correct shape. The needles of the plant are flat, but dense, have a bright green color with a bluish tint. The lower part of the needles is bluish-white. Her cones are large, blue-violet hue.

The plant feels much better in illuminated places and does not like sudden changes in ambient temperature. If it is in a dark place, then the shoots begin to stretch, and the crown becomes loose.

Cold hardy. Needs moistened soil equipped with drainage.

The Korean fir "Blue Magic" is a dense shrub, annually grows in length by 6-10 centimeters, and at 10 years old it is 1 meter high and 80 centimeters wide.

Crown in the form of a pyramid. The needles are dark blue-green, the lower part is silvery. The buds are purple. Prefers a semi-shaded place. The soil should be acidic or slightly acidic, moist and equipped with drainage. The place where it grows must be protected from the wind.

"Dark Hill" (Dark Hill), "Oberon" (Oberon) and other varieties

Korean fir "Dark Hill" prefers to be in direct sun or partial shade. The soil should be equipped with drainage, slightly acidic and moderately moist. Frost resistant. For 10 years it reaches 40 centimeters. The crown diameter is 50-70 centimeters at the age of 10. Dwarf, shaped like a pillow, asymmetrical. The needles are hard, short, dark green in color, with shine.

"Oberon" is a dwarf variety of Korean fir with a dome-shaped crown. The needles are bright green. At 10 years old, its height is approximately 40 centimeters with a width of 60 centimeters. Needs moist soil. Prefers a semi-shaded area at first, and then it is desirable to provide it with full coverage. Grows well on soils equipped with drainage, without excess moisture. The buds are small, but there are quite a few of them, and they all grow vertically. The buds are densely saturated with resin, they appear in the first year.

It is advisable to plant it in the ground in the spring or autumn. To do this, it is initially recommended to dig a hole twice as large as the volume of the entire root system of the fir. Put compost on the bottom, and then place a pre-moistened lump with roots there so that it is level with the ground. Around the trunk it will be necessary to make a small depression through which it is good to water the seedling so that the ground near the roots is sufficiently saturated with moisture. Finally, it is advisable to mulch the land.

The Korean Fir Doni Tajuso prefers sunny or semi-shaded locations. The soil should be equipped with drainage, slightly acidic and moist. Frost resistant. At 10 years old, its height is a maximum of 30 centimeters. The crown diameter is about 30 centimeters at the age of 10. The shape of the crown resembles a pillow. The needles are not soft, short, light green in color, with shine.

"Ottostrasse" prefers a sunny or semi-shaded place to the soil, no special requirements, moderately moisture-loving, frost-hardy. It grows in height up to 50 centimeters. The crown is 120 centimeters in diameter, in the form of a cone. It grows 3 to 5 centimeters each year. The needles are soft, short, in the upper part - bright green, shiny, in the lower part - two longitudinal silvery stripes. The cones are arranged vertically, shade, in length - about seven centimeters, and in width - up to two centimeters.

Korean fir "Select" prefers sunny or semi-shaded areas that are protected from the wind. It grows well on slightly acidic soils equipped with drainage. Grows up to 4 meters. The crown is up to three meters in diameter. It has the shape of a wide cone. It grows by 10-20 centimeters per year. The needles are short, 2-3 centimeters long, soft, the upper part is dark green and glossy, the lower part has two silvery stripes. Cones are purple-blue, up to three centimeters long.

Korean fir "Cis" (Cis) loves sunny or semi-shaded places, is not demanding to the soil, cold-resistant. It reaches a height of 80 centimeters. The crown grows up to 120 centimeters in diameter, therefore it has the shape of a ball. It grows 3-5 centimeters every year. The needles are soft, the upper part is green, glossy, and the lower part has two silvery stripes. The buds are purple-purple in color, 5-7 centimeters long and about 2 centimeters wide.

The Korean fir Kristallkugel grows well in sunny or semi-shaded areas. The soil is not demanding and frost-resistant. Its height is up to 50 centimeters, dwarf. A crown with a diameter of 2 meters can be. The shape is cushion-shaped.

The needles are soft, the upper part is bright green, the lower one has two silvery stripes. The buds are purple-purple in color, 5-7 centimeters long and about 2 centimeters wide.

Korean fir: the most popular varieties, planting and care features

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(A. koreana) is quite resistant and winter-hardy in the middle lane, where it has been successfully grown for more than 15 years in many gardens. It grows slowly, but surely, it has not quite the correct crown shape, but sometimes it is even useful. Among the new products, it would be worthwhile to use more intensively the varieties Blauer Eskimo, Ice Breaker and Cis.

Description of Korean fir

European larchIn Europe, completely dwarf forms are now in fashion.All firs are demanding on moisture, richness and soil drainage.Recent research by scientists related to the Spanish fir has proven that this tree appeared even before the Ice Age. Today they are trying to establish how it survived.On reproductive shoots, with a pointed apex, on vegetative shoots, with a weak pomaceous or rounded apex. Fir needles live for about 8-15 years, but where the climate is colder, the needles stay on the tree longer.

For better branching and the formation of a fluffy crown, it is recommended to pinch the central buds. It is also necessary to remove dried cones and branches from the plants. Formative pruning is not required for Korean fir varieties.Despite slight differences in the requirements for illumination and soil fertility, all varieties of Korean fir have a common feature - superficial roots. This must be taken into account when planting trees on your site.The needles of this variety are distinguished by a strong bend, which is why the tree is often called curly. The upper part of the needles is colored green, the lower one is white-green.

But not only this feature distinguishes one variety from another. The shape and color of the needles, the type of cones and their color, as well as preferences regarding growing conditions - all these characteristics are unique for each variety. They must be taken into account when selecting Korean fir for decorating a plot.

Categories: conifers

The first

(L. decidua) Snapewood Broom, Kazbal and Corley are cushion-shaped forms with shoots fancifully spread out in the plane.

Siberian fir: variety of varieties (video)

The most popular varieties of Korean fir

Mountain pine

• Fir propagates by seeds, which are harvested at the beginning of the ripening of the cones. You need to sow in autumn or spring. Under normal conditions, seeds are stored for up to one year. Reproduction by annual cuttings is also possible. The roots of cuttings are formed in 8-9 months.
• The crown is conical, wide, low-set, branches are arranged horizontally. The bark is smooth, dark gray, cracks at maturity. Young shoots are glabrous, almost highly resinous. The branches are hard, covered with very hard spiky needles of a silvery-blue hue.

In most representatives, the needles are single, located spirally, due to the twisting of the petioles on the lateral branches, flat or comb in one plane. At the base, the leaves are expanded into a rounded disc, retaining a trace on the shoot after falling, sometimes slightly protruding.

Korean fir is extremely hardyWhen planting Korean fir, it is important to consider the fact that this species grows very slowly.The buds are medium-sized, up to 70 mm in length, colored green-purple.The most popular varieties for growing among Russian amateurs and professional designers are considered varietiesKorean fir is widely used in decorative gardening of sites Evergreen conifer Korean fir, belonging to the family Abies koreana Wils, is widely used in decorative gardening of sites. This species is represented by a wide varietal variety, due to which it can be used to create landscape compositions of any kind.

Blauer eskimo	Kornik	(P. mugo). They do not take up much space, grow slowly and are great for small rockeries. These are varieties such as Picobello, Moppet, Little Delight.	Looks great with other large trees (pseudo-tree, pine, spruce, larch). Low-growing species are planted with low conifers and ground cover perennials.	Korean fir grows in the mountains on the Korean Peninsula at an altitude of 100-1900 m above sea level. This type of fir has a rough bark. Its young, yellowish shoots are covered with fine hairs. Then they take on a red tint.
Cones are cylindrical, sessile, ovoid, ripen in the first year and disintegrate in autumn or winter, releasing seeds. The stem of the cones stays on the branches for a long time. On the upper edge of the seed scales, cut or broadly rounded, narrowed downward, with a wedge-shaped base, without a navel.	You may also be interested in the article in which we talk about unpretentious conifers that can be grown on your site.	Therefore, it is important to provide an additional indentation from the walls of buildings on the site, so that after a few decades the crown does not "rest" against the wall and does not suffer from a lack of light. Depending on the planted planting plan, Korean firs are planted at a distance of 5 m (to form flat and regular crowns) or 2 m (to create a dense hedge in the future) from each other.	Prefers bright places, withstands frosts well, but can break from snow adhering to the branches. The soil loves acidic, loose and moisture-consuming, with a high content of humus components. Used in single plantings, Japanese gardens and rockeries.	Diamond, Molly, Silberlock, Blue Emperor
In nature, Korean fir is found in the Northern Hemisphere in a temperate climatic zone.	, As the name suggests, has a bright blue color of needles, it is often offered in the form of a standard form, which, frankly, is of little interest to our gardeners due to the weak resistance of such forms to snowfalls and spring burns. Therefore, it is better to look for either a low stem (no more than 20 cm in height) or a pillow shape.	- a variety with sharply rising young shoots.	Pay attention to compact varieties that are quite winter-hardy	Talking about new products in the world of conifers is not easy, because most often the market offers gardeners varieties that are more than a dozen years old.
The Korean fir is full of charm. Already in her youth, she begins to bear fruit in abundance. Excellent, upward directed purple-purple cones against the background of green needles give the tree an amazing look. Due to its decorative effect, Korean fir is widely cultivated all over the world.	Seeds are triangular-wedge-shaped or obovate-wedge-shaped, with resinous cavities, very difficult to separate from the wing surrounding the seed; the wing is fan-shaped or rectangular.	Among the main advantages of the plant, reviews of Korean fir mention extremely high frost resistance and slow growth, due to which the compositions on the site do not require annual correction of winter "surprises". The absence of the need for pruning is also appreciated by gardeners, because even with a complete absence of external influence on the forms, the Korean fir grows absolutely symmetrical and even (with the exception of dwarf shrub species). Among the disadvantages of the Korean fir, susceptibility to aphid attacks is mentioned. However, this problem, according to gardeners, is easily solved with the help of insecticides.	The time of planting Korean fir in open ground is the beginning of spring before the formation of young buds and shoots on the seedlings.	Molly
And	It is considered one of the longest living plants.	Variety	Krejci	Pyrenean pine
Let's define the terminology right away. We will talk about conifers, not conifers. Professionals call conifers only plants of the genus Ephedra, and not at all pines, spruce, fir, larch, juniper, thuja and some other species.	Its high quality wood is used for the pulp and paper industry.	Fir begins to bloom in the 60-65th year of life, in an open place earlier. Male fir cones are on the top of last year's shoots, female cones are reddish-purple or green, erect, standing singly in the upper part of the crown near the ends of last year's shoots. Fir grows very slowly for the first ten years, then picks up the pace. The maximum age of fir is about 300-500 years.	Judging by the numerous reviews of gardeners who have already become the owners of the Korean fir, this plant fits perfectly into any landscape. Due to the variety of shapes and unpretentiousness, trees and shrubs belonging to this species have won the love of many. Having planted it on your site, you can forget about the need to decorate it with something else for many years.	The ideal age for planting material is from 4 to 10 years. Younger plants may die due to the abundance of light or frost, while older plants take root less well in a new place.

The crown is conical, up to 3 m in diameter, the maximum plant height is 7 m.

Landing features

CompactSome specimens in natural conditions reach the age of 400 years.

Ice breaker- in appearance it is generally a very strange plant, but it can bring the effect of some kind of alien miracle to the garden.

, Or hooked (P. uncinata), which have only recently appeared on the market. These are Braska, Jezek, Offenpass, Rusalka, Maja, Paradekissen. They are from both Western European and Polish nurseries.

Almost everything that we could consider new when visiting an exhibition or a sale has long been described and openly in nature or in large nurseries, where experts tirelessly search for forms promising for mass production. Therefore, the concept of something new in the world of conifers is very, very conditional. After all, a new variety of pine, spruce or fir for a gardener could be described and found in reference books and encyclopedias for 20-30 years before it became available for purchase.A tree with a narrow pyramidal crown, with slightly raised branches and a straight trunk. The bark of the trunk is gray, smooth, with small elliptical traces from flying branches and cracks.Fir is a very decorative forest species, which not only produces timber, but is also common in landscape construction. Fir is very decorative and takes root well outside its natural range. Fir balsam and valuable resins are obtained from the bark of some types of fir, fir oil is obtained from branches and needles, and fir legs are also valued. Essential oil is made from them. In addition to essential oil, the foot contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and is also a raw material for its production.

The pine family has many different evergreen genera and tree species that delight our eyes all winter long. Among them is the fir - a cone-shaped, slender plant with odorous two-colored needles, lush, sprawling branches.

Silberlock fir is used in single plantings, Japanese gardens and rockeriesThe needles are bright green, bluish-gray on the lower part, very dense.

(The second name of this fir is Compacta Dwarf).

Care rules

A distinctive feature of this type of fir is slow growth.

1. With beautiful, inside-out needles, exposing the white stripes of its lower part, is extremely bright and exotic. In the form of an eye-catching white and green pillow, it can look great in rockeries.
2. LittleBogle
3. Colorado spruce, or
4. Of greatest interest to Russian gardeners are now the new species of pines that have appeared on sale for us. First of all, it is a pine

Young shoots are yellow-green, pubescent, then become brownish-brown and naked. Her kidneys do not contain resin, are pubescent. The Caucasian fir is wind-resistant due to its developed root system.

It is one of the main forest-forming species in North America, where it grows in the coniferous zone. In the mountains, balsam fir rises to the border of the forest, but most often it grows in lowlands and next to gutters, together with species of thuja, hemlock, spruce, pine, as well as deciduous species.

Most of the firs are common in the subtropics and temperate climatic zone. Only Siberian and balsamic plants grow to the north and withstand more severe conditions with low temperatures. In some species, the lower branches are very low and may even root in the ground.

Gardeners reviews

Korean fir is undemanding to soil nutrients and moisture, but acidic soils with a high humus content are more suitable for good development.

Conifers: a choice for the garden (video)

Cones are purple-blue, numerous, up to 5 cm long.

Fir. Photo and description

Variety name

It is thanks to him that the tree looks very dense and fluffy.

Third grade -

- rather bonsai-like form of larch. Her place is in a garden with oriental motives or in a luxurious rockery.

Blue

Banks
Demanding on air humidity, loves fresh, loam with an admixture of black soil. However, it can grow on calcareous soils. This type of fir is durable, lives up to 500-800 years.

The height of the tree is about 15-25 m and the trunk diameter is 0.8 m. Balsam fir is a very decorative species, thanks to the large number of young dark purple cones.

Large fir cones are directed upwards, they sometimes have a very interesting color, decorate the plant in summer and autumn, and fly around in the winter. The bark of young plants is usually smooth and only with age acquires scales or cracks.

Description of fir

It is important to avoid wetlands when planting, although fir is positive about the presence of peat in the soil.Prefers well-lit places, sheltered from the winds. Needs drainage and good hydration. Looks good in single landings.Crown shape, plant height

The trunk of Korean fir is even, in diameter it can reach 40 cm, however, in varietal plants grown in personal plots, the trunk rarely reaches a diameter of 27 cm.

Cis

The dwarf forms of larch are very interesting.

(Picea pungens) is native to the western United States.It has long been grown in Russia, but I would like gardeners to learn to understand a huge number of its varieties and start choosing the most beautiful: Baby Blue Eyes, Copeland, Edith, Fat Albert, Montgomery, Wendy.

(Pinus banksiana) - extremely hardy and frost-resistant, from the taiga zone of Canada. This species is distinguished by shortened, but dense needles and a peculiar arrangement of branches. Young specimens resemble molded pines from Japanese gardens. They grow slowly, do not give a thick shade - in general, this is a godsend for practicing designers. Banks pine has the following low grades: Chippewa and Schoodic.

The homeland of the monochromatic fir is North America. Plantations of this species, as a rule, are located on shady slopes, as well as along rivers. Large tree with a conical crown.

Cones are gray-brown, oval-cylindrical, very resinous, from 5 to 10 cm long and 2 cm thick. They are scattered in October.

Types and varieties of fir

Balsam fir

Some types of fir have a very interesting color, silver-gray or bluish. They can be excellent ornamental plants in estates and parks. Alleyways are also decorated with them. Most of these plants can be susceptible to frost, but most often at a young age. Mature plants are already more resistant in this regard.

If there is a possibility of flooding, good drainage should be provided.

Compacta

The appearance of the needles

White fir (European)

There are also varieties of Korean fir with an unexpressed central trunk (trunk).

- a good find for a garden designer; it has a dense, beautiful texture of a green crown and a small annual growth, which will allow planning the decorative appearance of the composition for many years to come.

Kampfer

Great fir

In addition to high varieties of this species, there are also a huge number of low and cushion-shaped ones: Glauca Procumbens, Early Cones, Blue Pearl, Centrys Gem, Blue Horizon, Benno, Lucky Strike, Lundebys Dwarf, Nimetz.

Very promising with us

Vicha fir

The branches are arranged horizontally. The height of the tree is about 35-50 m, the diameter of the trunk is 1.5 m. The needles are narrow, soft, about 5-8 m long, they smell like lemon. On both sides, it is dull-bluish-green.

Seeds are brown in color with a purple tint, their size is 5-8 mm. This type of fir begins fruiting at the age of 20-30. This type of fir is shade-tolerant. Prefers loamy moist soils. Lives for about 150-200 years.

In construction and for the manufacture of furniture, fir is rarely used, more in the pulp and paper industry. The resin of this tree is used for medical purposes, in the manufacture of soap and other perfumery products, household chemicals. Fir also supplies us with camphor and varnishes.

Spanish fir

The depth of the fir planting pit is 50-80 cm, depending on the type of plant. The more massive its crown and the larger the roots, the deeper and wider the hole needs to be made. It is important to carefully spread the roots of the fir and not to deepen the root collar. Otherwise, the tree will stop growing and may completely die within 3-4 years.

The crown is symmetrical and compact, no more than 80 cm high. The maximum growth per year is 5-7 cm.

Korean fir

The appearance of the cones

Such plants look like a cushion-shaped bush.

The following varieties of Korean fir are also interesting: spherical Crystal Hugel, narrow conical Gait, golden Golden Dream, ground cover Green Carpet, Oberon, Silverperl, Silver Show, Tundra, Schneestern.

Nordman fir (Caucasian)

(L. kaempferi), which differs from other species, as you probably know, with its beautiful blue needles. Pay attention to the following varieties: Bambino, Blue Dwarf, Blue Croc, Madurodam, Blue Rabbit. It's not scary to experiment with larch trees, including with the standard forms of all the varieties mentioned - as already mentioned above, they are very reliable in our conditions.

Of the real discoveries for the Russian garden, I would like to mention the variety of ordinary spruce (P. abies)

Twisted pine

Fir monochromatic

Bears fruit every 3 years. Cones are dark purple, oval-cylindrical, about 8-15 cm long. It grows very slowly, at 5 years its height reaches 1 meter, and at 10 years 2 meters. Grows well on sandy dry soils.

This type of fir grows at an altitude of about 350-1500 m above sea level, forms clear forests, and also mixed with spruce and beech.The tree is about 30-60 m high, the trunk is up to 2 m in diameter. The needles are dull, flat, shiny, dark green above, below - with white stripes, about 2-3 cm long. On the shoots, it stays for 6-9 years.

You can sew a broken off branch into a pillow and fall asleep under a pleasant coniferous scent. Or scare away moths in the closet with it. And with sciatica or colds, you can take

The situation with planting Korean fir in containers is a little simpler.

Fir equiscale

The needles are dense and long (up to 4 cm), blue.

Preferred growing conditions

In most cases, the crown of Korean fir is a cone or pyramid. In this case, the color of the plant depends not only on varietal characteristics, but also on the age of the tree. Young specimens are colored light yellow or light green. As the needles grow older, or rather, succulent-shaped leaf blades, acquire emerald, bluish-green or rich green shades, often with a whitish or silvery bloom on the lower part of the needles.

Subalpine fir

Arizona fir

White fir

Location

Formanek

(P. contorta). Its varieties are Frisian Gold and Taylors Sunburst.

Fir propagation

This fir is very decorative. Forms with silvery and bluish needles, which adorn any personal plot, are especially popular with gardeners.

Partners

Female cones are green, single, vertical, formed close to the ends of last year's shoots, male cones are purple or yellow, singly sitting in the axils of the needles of last year's shoots. White fir does not tolerate dryness and waterlogged soil. Likes to grow in moist fertile soils. The tree lives up to 300-400 years.

Review of new varieties of pine, spruce, larch and fir

Fir baths.

The soil for low-growing bushy varieties is made up on the basis of general rules. The bottom of the flowerpot or container is equipped with drainage from shards, and the top is covered with soil. The roots of shrubby fir also need to be well straightened, and then covered with the rest of the soil flush with the root collar.

Cones on this variety are extremely rare.

Pines

Brilliant (diamond)Due to its slow growth, the fir looks like a very dense and fluffy tree.(A. lasiocarpa) is native to the highlands of western North America. By nature, it has bright bluish needles, which protects it at home from excessive sunlight. Therefore, it is quite resistant to sunburn. This type of fir is frost-hardy in central Russia, but after 15 - 20 years the lower part of the trunk is bare, which should be taken into account immediately when placing a seedling. They use mainly the Compacta variety, but it would be worth planting such new cultivars as Duflon, Lopalpun, Green Globe, Prikly Pete, Utah. It is not easy to find them in European nurseries, but they are worth it.

(Abies alba) is a European species. Fir is quite frost-resistant, but prone to spring burns. Therefore, you should pay attention to its dwarf varieties, which can be shaded in case of unfavorable spring weather: Bystricka, Hana Balatka, Hedge Franz.... This is a wonderful creeping ground cover variety that will perfectly decorate any retaining wall or slope and not only decorate relief imperfections, but also strengthen the slope. And it looks stunning. Of the new, amusing dwarf trees of this species, you should definitely pay attention to the varieties Hasin, Hiiumaa, Hocksteins Iseli, Klucinicece, Ziecice Balatka, Dumpy. All of them are stable in central Russia and practically do not burn in the spring sun.It is very interesting to experience in our conditions

Under natural conditions, the fir of the same scale grows in the central regions of Japan. The tree is about 25-40 meters high, the crown diameter is 1-5 meters. The crown is pyramidal, with smooth brown or gray branches.The wood of this fir is white, without resinous passages, very resistant to rot, it dries perfectly, is sawn, chopped, planed and veneered, thanks to which it is widely used in construction.The genus includes about 50 species, common in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.

Fir Blue Emperor prefers slightly shaded areas and nutritious moist soils with drainagePrefers bright places with sandy loam or loamy soil filled with humus.Great for container planting, as well as for growing in rock gardens, coastal areas of water bodies and for walking areas.Natural dwarf with a pillow-shaped crown with a diameter of no more than 70 cm.The maximum plant height is 50 cm.

Fruits with seeds, or simply cones, grow vertically on Korean fir, which is why they are often compared to candles. On young trees, they are colored dark purple or bluish-green (depending on the cultivar), on adults, they are brown-gray or gray-green. During growth, the segments of the cones are tightly closed, and at the time of ripening, they open, and the seeds spill out.Siberian firBalsam fir

Also, Russian gardeners will be interested in the cushion-shaped bluishPine bungeThe needles are about 3 cm long and about 1-3 cm wide, bluish color below, and dark green above.

Ate

The great fir grows in nature on the Pacific coast of North America. The crown of this type of fir is cone-shaped, in open areas it may start from the ground. The bark is thin, dark brown, with age, its thickness becomes 6-8 cm and begins to crack.Under natural conditions, fir grows in the mountainous zones of the temperate and subtropical belt of Eastern and Central Europe, the Far East, Siberia, East and Central Asia (China, Japan, the Korea Peninsula, the Himalayas), North America and North Africa.Regardless of whether Korean fir grows in the open field or in a container, it is important to follow the general rules for caring for this plant:

Blue Emperor

The needles are dense, saturated dark green, on the reverse side they are bluish or silvery green with longitudinal stripes. The needles are soft, with curled edges, no more than 2 cm long.In any phase, be it winter dormancy or active growth in summer, the representatives of the Korean fir look very picturesque. They go well with flower and decorative deciduous crops, fruit trees and shrubs. Even planted in a rocky garden or on an absolutely flat lawn, they are able to bring a certain zest to the landscape of the site.(A. sibirica). For the first time in many years, the Liptovsky Pradek variety appeared on the market as the most stable and reliable variety in the middle fir zone.

(A. balsamea) - very hardy and resistant in central Russia, but it grows rather slowly. We advise you to use not only the popular varieties Nana and Piccolo, but also the compact Cuprona Jewel, Tyler Blue, Eugene Gold, almost blue Kiwi, White-tip Old Ridge.Spruce mariorica(P. bungeana) with an amazing colorful openwork crown. According to some reports, it must withstand the climate of central Russia. She also has compact low varieties.

Larch

Male cones 7 mm wide, 1.5 cm long, are ovoid. Female cones are dark purple, cylindrical. Brown cones, 3 cm wide and 10 cm long. Lives about 300 years.

Despite its decorative effect, great fir is rarely used in landscaping because of the requirements for growing conditions, as well as climate. A tree with a height of 35 to 90 m and a trunk diameter of 70-120 cm. The shape of the needles is dark green, has a tetrahedral shape. Prefers moderately moist fertile soils. Life expectancy is about 250-300 years.In the western hemisphere, fir is distributed from Alaska to Guatemala and from Labrador to the highlands of North Carolina. Fir mainly grows in humid, cool climates. The tallest tree in Russia is exactly the fir (Young firs need shading and shelter from frost in the first years after planting.

The compact and very dense crown does not have a pronounced central trunk, which is why the shape of the plant resembles an elongated pillow. The maximum height of this variety is 1.5 m.The average annual growth is 6 cm.There are no bumps.

In landscape design, many varieties of Korean fir are used, which can be conditionally classified into two groups:Caucasian fir

Fir monochromatic(P. mariorika) Machala cultivars. This is a hybrid of Serbian spruce and black spruce. And her parent Serbian spruce (R. otopka) should pay attention to dwarf varieties such as Pimoko, Peve Tijn.

Unfortunately, even people who consider themselves professional garden designers rarely use a very stable and fabulously beautiful pine tree.It grows in the mountains of North America. Fir is best cultivated in areas with a humid warm climate. It is a valuable decorative species used in landscape design.The Vicha fir grows naturally in the mountains of Japan, forming mixed or pure stands with other types of fir, spruce trees at an altitude of about 1300-1900 m above sea level. It is a slender tree with a pyramidal crown. It grows very quickly, at the age of 30 it reaches more than 10 meters in height.

Fir

Caucasian firYoung plants and those grown in containers especially need watering. It is important to recharge the water every 10-15 days. Adult plants can be watered 2-3 times per season. In especially dry years, you can increase the number of waterings up to 2 times a month.

The needles are short and dense, soft to the touch. The upper part of the needles is violet-silver or intense blue, the lower part is white.Prefers areas protected from wind. Demanding on light, but tolerates light shading. The soil for this variety should be slightly acidic, air and water permeable, loose and fertile. One of the best varieties to grow in a container. Suitable for rocky garden, mixborder and rabat.

Tall fir with a pyramidal or conical crown;, Or Nordmann (A. nordmanniana) can be used in the gardens of central Russia only in the form of dwarf pillow varieties wintering under the snow (Petra, Jakobsen). Large specimens, unfortunately, both burn and freeze.

(A. concolor) is one of the most famous species of our gardeners. Its new varieties Blue Sapphire and Kalous are attractive. Both are cushion-shaped. The first has a deep blue color of the needles, the second is rather whitish-silver. In the garden, they will look harmoniously in the foreground of well-lit compositions of conifers and shrubs. Other varieties worth paying attention to are the compact Birthday Broom, Conica Witch Broom, Gables Weeping, La Veta and Piggelmee.Larch (Larix) - one of the most reliable conifers for the middle lane. Unfortunately, most Russian gardeners know them either as huge trees, falling asleep all around with falling needles in the fall, or they know only a few weeping forms. However, in fact, the modern assortment of larch trees is not limited to this.

RumelianLooks very impressive in group and single landings. Above the needles are dull blue-green, below with white stripes. Keeps on shoots for 9 years. Lives for about 300 years.The needles are soft, about 2.5 cm in length, dark green, shiny on top, below - with white stripes. In windy conditions, this gives the tree a silvery-white hue.

​).​Korean fir begins to need feeding 3-4 years after planting. It is better to fertilize them with complexes for conifers (no more than 100-130 g of fertilizer per square meter).The buds are small, dark blue or purple.

SilberlockeUndersized fir with a crown in the form of an irregular flattened ball or pillow.Landscaping of the house and the backyard with conifers not only improves the state of the air environment (purification of the air from exhaust gases, smoke, dust and other harmful substances), providing aesthetic pleasure, but also preserves youth if pine needles are added to tea. And if you still create compositions of their conifers with your own hands, it brings joy and pleasure twice.Benches, pots, decorative fences, multi-colored flower pots, wicker fences, wrought-iron lanterns, glowing bulbs - all this creates a cozy, fabulous atmosphere in the garden.

Korean fir

Varieties, Or Macedonian (R. reise). Its blue form is very curious, which can overshadow the beauty of almost all other pines - this is a truly good discovery of recent years. There is also a low grade Arnold Dwarf.

Fir trees are shade-tolerant, but thrive best in good lighting conditions. Wind resistant. Demanding air humidity. Very sensitive to air pollution from gases and fumes.Cones are about 7 cm long, purple-purple at a young age, brown when mature, wide-cylindrical scales, about 6-7 cm long. Seeds with a short wing, yellowish. Likes to grow in fertile soils. Lives about 200-300 years.

The fir is a powerful, monoecious, evergreen tree with a conical crown. The fir has a powerful root system, pivotal, going deep into the soil. Fir buds are resinous or without resin at all. Needles are of two types.Korean fir grows better on soil mulched with semi-rotten sawdust or pine needles (previously disinfected and steamed). This inhibits the growth of weeds and makes the soil more permeable to moisture and air.

Prefers slightly shaded areas and nutritious moist soils with drainage. One of the best varieties for planting in rock gardens, oriental gardens.

The crown is conical, often without a pronounced main trunk. It grows slowly, the annual growth is about 12 cm.

The genus fir (Abies) belongs to the pine family. In Russia, the name of such a plant comes from the German word "Fichte", which means "spruce" in translation. Under natural conditions, fir can be found in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, as well as in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Fir often prefers to grow in coniferous forests, along with pine, cedar or spruce. And such a tree can also be found in mixed, and sometimes in deciduous forests. This genus unites about 50 species of various plants, among which there are half-meter shrubs and trees, the height of which can reach 80 meters. At the moment, decorative fir is very popular, which is used to decorate squares and parks, as well as garden plots. Before you start planting fir, you should find out about its shortcomings, namely: low frost resistance, and also intolerance to gas, smoke and excessively dry air.

Features of fir

Fir is an evergreen monoecious plant that loves warmth and is shade tolerant. A powerful rod system of roots goes into the deep layers of the soil. In a young tree, the bark is smooth and thin; over the years, it cracks and becomes thicker. The crown has a conical shape, and it begins directly from the base of the trunk, which distinguishes the fir from other conifers. The arrangement of the branches is annular-horizontal. The leaves are whole-edged flat non-rigid needles that taper at the base into a short petiole. In winter, in most conifers, the needles turn dirty red, but not in fir. On the lower surface of each needle there are 2 stripes of white color. The needles on the reproductive shoots are pointed, while on the vegetative branches they are slightly notched or have a rounded apex. The appearance of male flowers resembles cone earrings. At the same time, female flowers have a cylindrical, ovoid or cylindrical-ovoid shape. Unlike other conifers, fir cones are directed upwards, rather than hanging down. The composition of female cones includes a rod with covering scales sitting on it, and inside them are fruit scales that carry a pair of ovules. Pollination of this plant is carried out by the wind.After the seeds ripen on the cones, the scales become stiff and fall off. In this case, the release of winged seeds occurs, and only the rods remain on the fir itself. Fir can be grown in the same place for 300 years.

Planting fir in open ground

What time to plant

Only those seedlings that are 4 years old or more are planted in open soil. Disembarkation can be done in April, but it is better to do this in the last days of August or the first days of September. It is recommended to plant fir on a cloudy day. A suitable landing site should be in partial shade or shade. The soil should be fertile, moist, well-drained and better if it is loam. It is very good if a reservoir is located a short distance from the landing site.

How to plant

The landing hole should be prepared half a month before the day of disembarkation. Its approximate dimensions are 60x60x60 centimeters, and the final value will directly depend on the dimensions of the seedling root system itself. Pour 20-30 liters of water into the prepared hole. After the liquid is all absorbed, the bottom of the hole must be dug up to half the bayonet of the shovel, and then a layer of broken brick or crushed stone is placed in it, the thickness of which should be from 5 to 6 centimeters. Then the hole is filled ½ part with an earth mixture consisting of clay, humus, peat and sand (2: 3: 1: 1), into which you need to pour from 200 to 300 grams of nitrophosphate and 10 kilograms of sawdust. After a couple of weeks, the soil in the hole will have to settle, after which you can proceed to the direct planting of the seedling. The root system of the plant is placed in such a way that its root collar is flush with the ground. It is best to set the root system on an earthen mound. After the roots are straightened, the pit will need to be filled with earth mixture (the composition is described above) and everything will be tamped well. The planted plant must be watered. In the event that you are planting a fir alley, then the distance between the seedlings should be from 4 to 5 meters. For group planting, the distance between plants should be from 3 to 3.5 meters for loose groups and 2.5 meters for dense groups.

Fir garden care

After each watering, the soil must be loosened no more than 10–12 centimeters deep, and weeds must be removed. In young trees, it is recommended to sprinkle the trunk circle with a diameter of half a meter with mulch (sawdust, wood chips or peat). The mulch layer should vary from 5 to 8 centimeters. At the same time, make sure that the root collar of the plant is free of mulch. The planted fir will need to be fed only after 2-3 years, this should be done in the spring, by adding 100 to 125 grams of Kemira-wagon into the soil of the trunk circle. Only moisture-loving fir species require watering. For example, balsam fir needs to be watered 2 or 3 times during the whole season, but only during drought. For one watering, you need to pour 1.5–2 buckets under each tree. Other species do not need to be watered, since they react extremely negatively to waterlogging, and natural precipitation is quite enough for them.

Pruning

Pruning is carried out in the spring before sap flow begins, and all dry and injured branches must be removed. And at this time, you can, if necessary, start shaping the crown. Garden shears are used for pruning. It should be remembered that during one haircut, the stem can be shortened by no more than 1/3. As a rule, the crown of such a tree is very neat and does not require shaping.

Transfer

Conifers, when compared with other plants, tolerate transplantation quite well and quickly take root in a new place. In the event that a young plant is transplanted, then it is necessary to pierce the soil in a circle, stepping back from the trunk from 0.3 to 0.4 meters, using a sharp shovel for this. Then, with the same shovel, it is necessary to pry the designated circle, immersing it in the soil to the depth of the bayonet.The fir is taken out together with a clod of earth and transported in a wheelbarrow to a new planting site, while it should be placed very carefully in the planting hole.

If the fir has already grown, then before proceeding with the transplant, it is prepared. To do this, the soil is pierced in a circle 12 months before the intended transplant, while the trunk must be retreated more than in the first case. Within a year, the tree will grow young roots inside the designated circle, which will allow it to easily transfer the transplant. It should be noted right away that one person may not be able to cope with the transplant of the grown fir, so find yourself an assistant in advance. It is very important not to allow the earthen lump to collapse during transplantation.

Pests and diseases

There is nothing difficult in planting and growing fir. This plant is also distinguished by a fairly high resistance to diseases and harmful insects. However, sometimes it can begin to turn yellow, due to the fact that Hermes (a type of aphid) settle on it. To destroy such pests, use Antio or Rogor. At the beginning of spring, the female Hermes awakens, and it is at this time that the plant must be treated with a solution of any of these funds, while 20 grams of the drug is taken in a bucket of water. Also, these drugs will help get rid of such pests as pine cone leaf roll and fir shoot moth.

In some cases, this tree begins to turn yellowing of the needles, while rusty pillows appear on the stems. This indicates that the fir is infected with a fungal disease such as rust. Infected branches need to be cut and destroyed, as well as the needles that fell off, then the cutting sites are processed using a garden pitch. The crown should also be processed and for this, a solution of Bordeaux liquid (2%) is used. Take a good look at the area where the fir grows, if there is a starfish or chickweed on it, then these plants must be dug up and destroyed.

Fir propagation

If the fir is a species, then the generative method (seed) is used for its reproduction, while the harvesting of seeds is carried out as soon as the ripening of the cones begins. For propagation of decorative fir, the method of grafting is used.

Fir propagation by cuttings

The length of the cuttings should be between 5 and 8 centimeters. They should be cut only from young trees, while using only annual shoots, which have only one (not two!) Apical bud. Also, the stalk must be taken with a heel, for this it is recommended not to cut it off, but to tear it off with a sharp movement, while a piece of bark and wood of an older shoot should come off. Cuttings are harvested in spring, choosing a cloudy morning for this. You need to take them from the middle part of the crown from its northern side.

Before planting the cutting for rooting, all burrs should be carefully removed from the heel. Also carefully examine the bark, it should not peel off from the wood. As a preventive measure against fungal diseases, it will be necessary to process the cuttings. To do this, they are immersed for 6 hours in a 2% solution of foundationol or captan, and you can also use a dark pink solution of manganese potassium. After that, the cuttings are planted in a soil mixture, consisting of humus, sand and leafy earth (1: 1: 1). The planting is covered with a cap, which should be transparent. To speed up the rooting process, it is recommended to provide bottom heating of the soil, its temperature should exceed room temperature by 2-3 degrees. Move the cuttings to a well-lit place, protected from direct sunlight, and ventilate them every day. For the winter, the cuttings should be transferred to the basement, and in the spring they are taken out into the street. Rooting such cuttings is a relatively lengthy process. So, at the very beginning, callus grows, and only in the second year roots are formed.

Growing fir from seeds

Collecting fir seeds is not easy. The fact is that in adult specimens, ripening cones are relatively high, and still ripe winged seeds fly away almost immediately. In order to extract the seeds, you need to pick a slightly unripe cone, which is dried and only after that the seeds are removed. Such seeds need stratification, for this, immediately after collection, they are placed in a basement with high air humidity or on a refrigerator shelf. Sowing seeds in open soil in a prepared bed of turf and sand is carried out in April, while they need to be buried in the soil only a couple of centimeters. The crops are not watered, but immediately covered with a transparent film, in this case a crust does not form on the surface of the soil, and seedlings will appear much faster. The first seedlings should appear after 20-30 days. From this time on, it is necessary to start watering them, weeding and loosening the soil surface. In order for the seedlings to survive the first wintering, they should be covered with spruce branches. The next year, you can start transplanting young seedlings to a permanent place. The seedling obtained from the seed is initially characterized by extremely slow growth, because at first there is a build-up of the root system. So, a four-year-old fir in height can reach only 0.3 to 0.4 meters. However, older plants grow much faster.

Fir in winter

Preparing for winter

Those firs that experts advise to cultivate in the middle lane are distinguished by a fairly high frost resistance. But young specimens still need to be covered with spruce branches, while the surface of the trunk circle must be covered with a layer of mulch (dried foliage or peat), the thickness of which should be from 10 to 12 centimeters.

Wintering in the country

Adult firs are able to tolerate winter well without shelter. But in the last days of winter, it is recommended to protect them from the overly active spring sun; for this, the plants are covered with non-woven material.

Types and varieties of fir with photos and names

There are a fairly large number of species and varieties of fir, but not all of them are popular with gardeners. Below will be described those of them that are more or less in demand in culture.

Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

Under natural conditions, such a fir can be found in the United States and Canada, while its habitat in the north is limited to the tundra. In mountainous areas, such a tree can be seen growing at an altitude of 1.5-2 thousand meters. This frost-resistant shade-loving plant does not live very long, only about two hundred years. The height of such a plant can vary from 15 to 25 meters, and its trunk reaches 0.5–0.7 meters in thickness. Young fir trees are covered with gray-ash smooth bark. Older trees have cracked reddish-brown bark. Resinous pale green buds are light purple in color and are spherical or ovoid in shape. In length, dark green glossy needles can reach 1.5-3 centimeters, stomatal lines run along their entire surface. The needles can be slightly notched at the tops or blunt, they die off after 4-7 years. If you grind them, then you can feel a pleasant aroma. The height of the oval-cylindrical cones can vary from 5 to 10 centimeters, and their width is 2–2.5 centimeters. Unripe buds are dark purple in color, which after ripening changes to brown. Mature buds are highly resinous. This species has been cultivated since 1697. This fir is planted singly or used in small group plantings. The most popular forms are:

1. Hudsonia... This mountain dwarf plant has very dense branches, a wide crown and many short stems. Short needles are wide and flat in shape, their front surface is green-black, and the back is bluish-green. Cultivated since 1810.
2. Nana... The height of the tree does not exceed half a meter, the diameter of the rounded crown is about 250 centimeters.Thick, spreading branches are arranged horizontally. The short, lush needles are colored dark green, while on its lower greenish-yellow surface there are 2 stripes of bluish-white color. It has been cultivated since 1850. This plant is perfect for landscaping roofs, terraces and rocky gardens.

The following forms of this type are also cultivated: gray fir, variegated, dwarf, silvery, columnar, and even prostrate.

Korean fir (Abies koreana)

In nature, this kind can be found in the mountains of the southern part of the Korean Peninsula at an altitude of 1.8 thousand meters. These firs create clean forests and mixed ones. Young firs are very slow growing. However, in older specimens, the growth rate becomes faster over the years. In height, such a tree can reach 15 meters, while the trunk diameter varies from 0.5 to 0.8 meters. The shape of the crown is conical. Young specimens are covered with smooth ash-colored bark, in some cases with a purple tint. Older specimens have chestnut bark with deep cracks. The practically round buds are only slightly resinous. Lush needles are tough enough. Each needle is curved with a saber and has a notch at its apex. The upper surface of the needles has a dark green color, and the lower one is silvery (due to 2 very wide stomatal stripes). The length of the cylindrical cones is about 5-7 centimeters, and in diameter they can reach 3 centimeters. Young buds are colored lilac-purple. This plant was brought to European countries only in 1905. This species is distinguished by a very high decorative effect due to its two-color needles, as well as winter hardiness. This article describes the planting and care of this particular type of fir. Varieties:

1. Blue Standard... It differs from the original species only in the dark purple color of the cones.
2. Brevifolia... This cultivar is characterized by extremely slow growth and a dense rounded crown. The needles are not so dense in comparison with the original species, its upper surface is painted in a swamp-green color, and the lower one is grayish-white. The color of small cones is purple.
3. Piccolo... A tree in height can reach only 0.3 m. In an adult specimen, the diameter of a spreading horizontal crown can reach up to 50 centimeters. The needles are the same as in the main species.

Caucasian fir, or Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana)

This species is considered a Caucasian endemic, because in nature it can be found only in the Caucasus Mountains. In height, this plant can reach 60 meters, and the trunk has a thickness of about 200 centimeters. Low-set branchy lush crown has a narrow conical shape. The crown apex is sharp, but in fairly mature specimens it is not very pronounced. The trees are covered with glossy, smooth bark, but deep cracks form after the plant is 80 years old. Egg-shaped buds have practically no resin. The length of the needles is about 4 centimeters, and its width is about 0.25 centimeters, its upper surface is painted in dark green, and on the bottom there are 2 stripes of white color. On cone-bearing shoots, the tops of the needles are gently pointed, and on vegetative ones, there is a notch at the tops. In length, the cones reach 20 centimeters, and in diameter - 5 centimeters. Young buds are green and old buds are resinous dark brown. This species is fast-growing, and such a plant can live for about 500 years. The forms of the Caucasian fir: weeping, golden-pointed, gray-gray, erect, golden and white-pointed.

White fir (Abies concolor)

Such a fir is considered the queen among the representatives of the genus of fir. Under natural conditions, it can be found in the Southwest of the United States and in the North of Mexico. This tree prefers to grow in river canyons, as well as on mountain slopes at an altitude of 2 to 3 thousand meters above sea level.This species has a very high drought tolerance, while such a tree can live for about 350 years. Its height can vary from 40 to 60 meters, and the trunk thickness reaches 200 centimeters. The cone-shaped crown of a young tree is very lush, but as it ages, it thinns significantly. The color of the bark on older specimens is ash gray, while it is very coarse and cracked. The green-yellow resinous buds are spherical and about 50 mm in diameter. The length of the green-gray needles can be up to 7 centimeters, and its width is up to 0.3 centimeters. The apex of the needles is rounded and notched, while the stomatal lines are located on both their upper and lower surfaces. The shape of the cones is cylindrical-oval, they can be up to 14 centimeters long and 5 centimeters wide. The color of unripe cones is green or purple, and the color of mature ones is pale brown. It has been cultivated since 1831. This plant looks incredibly beautiful against the background of yellowed larches in autumn. Popular decorative forms:

1. Fir Compact... A dwarf shrub cultivar with open branches and blue needles. In some cases it is referred to as the Glauck Compact.
2. Violacea... The height of such a fast-growing plant can reach up to 8 meters. The wide crown has a conical shape, and the long needles are bluish-white. This fir has a very high decorative effect and is also resistant to drought.

Siberian fir (Abies sibirica)

Under natural conditions, it can be found in the north-east of Russia, while this tree prefers to grow in river valleys, as well as in the highlands. This species is winter hardy and shade-loving, and it is under state protection. Siberian fir is the most famous species of all that are included in this genus. In height, the plant can reach no more than 30 meters, and its narrow crown has a conical shape. The gray bark is smooth almost along its entire length, but at the very bottom it cracks. Narrow glossy needles are very soft, and they reach 30 mm in length. Their upper surface is dark green, and on the lower one there are 2 stripes of white color. Ripe upright buds become pale brown. Varieties of Siberian fir: white, graceful, blue, variegated, etc.

Not only the species described above are cultivated, but also such firs as: subalpine, Frazera, whole-leaved, equally scaled, Semyonova, Sakhalin, mayra, graceful, cephallian or Greek, tall, Vicha, white-brown or bud-scaled, white or European and Arizona.

Fir properties

A plant such as fir stands out strongly from all others (even conifers). The fact is that the wood of this tree contains no resinous substances at all, and this allows it to be used to create musical instruments, as well as to build ships. Fir bark is used to prepare a very valuable balm, and fir oil is extracted from the needles and branches. A decoction made from bark and needles can increase performance, strengthen the immune system, eliminate toothache, and lower acidity in the stomach.

The resin of this plant has a powerful antiseptic effect, so it is used to treat cuts, ulcers, wounds and abrasions. For a long time, the indigenous people of America, as well as the first settlers, treated various diseases with fir resin, for example: cough, cancer, otitis media, scurvy, bronchitis, tuberculosis, eliminated pain in the throat, dysentery, mucosal inflammation, vaginal infection, gonorrhea, rheumatism, and they also removed pain in joints and muscles.

Medicines containing fir cell juice extract are used for various inflammatory processes, acute and chronic heart failure, rheumatism and infectious diseases. Fir cell sap is capable of:

• improve hematopoiesis;
• strengthen immunity;
• fight inflammatory processes (used in the treatment of pulmonary diseases);
• prevent the development of hypertension;
• normalize and significantly improve the work of the excretory organs;
• normalize the work of the digestive tract;
• saturate the body with missing macro- and microelements, as well as vitamins;
• protect from exposure to radiation;
• have a sedative and antioxidant effect, as well as increase the body's resistance to negative environmental influences.

It is also used in the prevention of heart and vascular diseases and oncology.

You can buy fir juice in the form of a phyto-cocktail, it is completely ready for use. You can also buy it in its natural form, but this type of juice can be drunk exclusively diluted.

Fir essential oil shows very good results even in cases in which various chemotherapy drugs are completely powerless. For example, this oil helps to slow down, and in some cases stop the growth of cancer cells. The oil goes directly into the bloodstream and accumulates in the focus of the disease, while it fully retains its healing properties, as it bypasses the digestive organs. The active ingredient in this substance is camphor. Fir oil is widely used in traditional medicine, as it has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, sedative, bactericidal, analgesic, tonic and tonic effects. It is also quite popular in cosmetology, it is used to eliminate: lichen, edema, flabbiness of the epidermis, acne, boils, wrinkles, warts, etc.

Before you start using preparations or folk remedies prepared on the basis of fir, you should familiarize yourself with some rules:

1. It is necessary for the duration of treatment to refuse drinks that contain even a small dose of alcohol.
2. You can not take such funds if you have an individual intolerance to fir.
3. These drugs cannot be used for treatment for people with kidney pathology, as well as for patients with epilepsy, and with an ulcer or gastritis of the stomach. And they must be abandoned by pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children.
4. If you use the product incorrectly or exceed the dosage, this can lead to an allergic reaction. If red spots appear on the skin, itching and swelling, the drug should be stopped immediately.

To check whether a product will cause an allergic reaction or not, you need to apply 10 to 15 drops of this drug to the skin on the back of your hand and rub it well. You can evaluate the result after 2-3 days. But even if you are not allergic to fir remedy, before taking it, you should consult with your doctor about the dosage before taking it.