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ConifersTrees

Abies magnifica

red fir

Very tall, evergreen, conifer tree, reaching height up to 25-35m in optimal conditions. Crown on young trees is narrowly conical, becoming more open, barrel-shaped on older trees. The common name of this Fir refers to the reddish-brown bark of mature specimens. Needle-like leaves are up to 3.5cm long, blue-green in colour, glossy above, with two pale, grey lines underneath. Needles are spirally arranged along the shoots, slightly twisted, bending upwards. Barrel-shaped, golden-green seed cones are 18 - 25 cm long, with concealed bracts.

Other common names

Californian red fir

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Ultimate height

Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height

20–50 years

Ultimate spread

4–8 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Pinaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Abies are evergreen conifers, often very tall, with whorled branches bearing flattened, linear leaves, often whitish beneath, and on the upper branches, large cones which break up whilst attached to the tree
Name status: Correct
Plant range: USA (California, Oregon, Nevada)

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in deep, slightly acidic, moist but well-drained soils in cooler climates. See conifer cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to adelgids and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but may be affected by honey fungus.

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