Noble fir. The best varieties of fir. Korean fir - Abies koreana

The genus includes about 50 species distributed in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere.

Under natural conditions, fir grows in the mountainous zones of the temperate and subtropical zones 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.

Fir Description

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 precisely the fir ().

Fir is a powerful monoecious, evergreen tree with a cone-shaped crown. Fir has a powerful root system, pivotal, going deep into the soil. Fir buds are resinous or without resin at all. Needles of two types.

On reproductive shoots, with a pointed apex, on vegetative shoots - with a weakly pitted or rounded apex. Fir needles live for about 8-15 years, but where the climate is colder, the needles remain on the tree longer.

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

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, the seed scales are cut off or broadly rounded, narrowed downwards, with a wedge-shaped base, without a navel.

Seeds triangular-wedge-shaped or obovate-wedge-shaped, with resin cavities, very difficult to separate from the wing surrounding the seed; fan-shaped or rectangular wing.

Fir begins to bloom at the age of 60-65, in an open place earlier. Male cones of fir are on top of last year's shoots, female cones are red-violet or green, vertically standing, located 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 pace. The maximum age of fir is about 300-500 years.

Fir is a very decorative forest species that provides not only construction wood, 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 species of fir, fir oil is obtained from branches and needles, and fir legs are also valued. They make essential oils. Except essential oil, the foot contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and is also a raw material for its production.

Types and varieties of fir

Balsam fir

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 grows in the lowlands and near drains, along with species of arborvitae, hemlock, spruce, pine, and hardwoods.

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

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

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

White fir (European)

This type of fir grows at an altitude of about 350-1500 m above sea level, forms pure forests, as well as mixed with spruce and beech. A tree about 30-60 m high, a trunk up to 2 m in diameter. The needles are blunt, flat, shiny, dark green above, with white stripes below, about 2-3 cm long. It stays on shoots for 6-9 years.

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

The wood of this fir is white, without resin passages, very resistant to rot, perfectly dried, sawn, split, planed and veneered, thanks to which it is widely used in construction.

great fir

Fir great in nature grows on the Pacific coast of North America. The crown of this type of fir is cone-shaped, in open areas it can start from the ground. The bark is thin, dark brown, with age its thickness becomes 6-8 cm and begins to crack.

Despite its decorative effect, great fir is used very rarely in landscaping due to 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.

Vicha fir

Wicha fir naturally grows in the mountains of Japan, forming mixed or pure plantations with other types of fir, spruce 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.

The needles are soft, about 2.5 cm long, dark green, shiny above, below - with white stripes. In windy weather, this gives the tree a silvery white hue.

Cones are about 7 cm long, purple-purple at a young age, brown at maturity, scales are wide-cylindrical, about 6-7 cm long. Seeds short-winged, yellowish. Likes to grow in fertile soils. Lives about 200-300 years.

Spanish fir

Recent scientific studies related to Spanish fir have proven that this tree appeared before the Ice Age. Today they are trying to establish how it survived.

The crown is cone-shaped, wide, low-started, the branches are located horizontally. The bark is smooth, dark gray, becoming cracked by maturity. Young shoots are bare, almost strongly resinous. The hard branches are covered with very hard prickly needles of a silvery-blue hue.

Korean fir

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 turn red.

Korean fir is filled with charm. Already in youth, she begins to bear fruit in abundance. Excellent, directed upwards, violet-purple cones against the background of green needles, give the tree an amazing look. Due to its decorative effect, Korean fir is widely cultivated throughout the world.

Its high quality wood is used for the pulp and paper industry.

Fir Nordmann (Caucasian)

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 of fallen branches and cracks.

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

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.

White fir

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

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, smells like lemon. On both sides it is matte bluish-green.

Fruits 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 in sandy dry soils.

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

Under natural conditions, the equal scale fir grows in the central regions of Japan. Tree about 25-40 meters high, crown diameter 1-5 meters. The crown is pyramidal, with smooth brown or gray branches.

The needles are about 3 cm long and about 1-3 cm wide, bluish below and dark green above.

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

It grows in the mountains of North America. Fir is best cultivated in areas with a humid warm climate. It is a valuable decorative breed, used in landscape design.

It looks very impressive in group and single plantings. The needles are dull blue-green above, with white stripes below. Stays on shoots for 9 years. Lives for about 300 years.

Location

Fir trees are shade tolerant but thrive best in good light. Wind resistant. Demanding on air humidity. Very sensitive to air pollution by gases and smoke.

Soil for fir

All firs are demanding on moisture, richness and drainage of the soil.

Fir breeding

Fir is propagated by seeds, which are harvested at the beginning of cone maturation. Sow in autumn or spring. At normal conditions seeds are stored for up to one year. It can also be propagated by annual cuttings. The roots of the cuttings are formed after 8-9 months.

Partners

Looks great with other large trees (pseudo-hemlock, pine, spruce, larch). Low-growing species are planted with low conifers and ground cover perennials.

Fir tree in the photo

Fir - a relative of spruce, a genus of monoecious evergreen trees, from 25 to 50 m high. Homeland - North America, countries of the East - China, Japan, Korea, the Far East.

When describing a fir tree, the crown deserves special attention - it is pyramidal, with one trunk-axis and branches arranged in tiers. The needles are flattened, dihedral, with stomatal stripes on the underside. Due to the wax coating, the needles appear whitish. At the top of the needles there is a notch, which is typical only for fir. The needles are attached to the branch with a disc-shaped expanded base in the form of a sucker, therefore, when it falls off, a trace remains in the form of a scar. The needles of the evergreen coniferous fir tree live without falling off for several years. The root system of fir is deep, but not branched.

At the age of 30 years and more, fir trees are decorated with cones. They appear in the upper third of the crown, are usually darker in color and stand on branches with candles.

The genus fir has more than 50 species, eight of them are found in the natural conditions of Russia. You can find photos and descriptions of fir species, especially popular in the middle lane, on this page.

Siberian fir tree in the photo

In the northeastern regions of the European part of Russia, as well as in Siberia, Siberian fir is common. In the mountains, it can rise up to 2 thousand meters above sea level. The tree is tall, with a pyramidal crown, durable - the maximum age is 200 years, but even then it dies not from old age, but from root rot.

As you can see in the photo, Siberian fir needles are narrow, 2-3 cm long:

Siberian fir needles
Siberian fir needles

The root system is deep due to the tap root, but not branched and without visible root hairs. They are replaced by fungal mycorrhiza, with which fir forms a very productive symbiosis.

The buds are resinous, the bark also abundantly secretes resin. Resin has a beneficial effect on the plant, reducing evaporation.

The winter hardiness of Siberian fir is high, which cannot be said about resistance to air pollution. She also does not like waterlogged soils, and marshy ones kill her.

All parts of Siberian fir contain volatile and non-volatile resins. Turpentine and essential oil substances are volatile, and rosin-resin substances are non-volatile. Both those and others have bactericidal properties, due to which fir trees in their youth are almost not damaged by diseases.

From the needles and young branches on an industrial scale, fir oil is extracted, which is used to make camphor. IN pure form fir oil is widely used in medicine - for inhalation, rubbing, as a component of medicines for diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

As a heart remedy, this camphor surpasses imported ones in terms of vitamin C content and effectiveness.

Of great interest are also varieties of fir of eastern origin - from Korea, Northern China, from the Far East.

Look at the photo of Siberian fir, the description of which you could see above:

Siberian fir
Siberian fir

Caucasian fir in the photo

This plant is widely distributed, but less stable in culture. The tree is powerful, beautiful, very tall and durable. It lives up to 800 years, but, like the Siberian fir, it dies not from old age, but from fungal diseases and pests.

Caucasian fir in the photo

In culture, this species attracts the attention of breeders, they bred weeping forms, with golden needles.

When describing Caucasian fir, it is worth noting that its main drawback is that this tree often suffers from sunburn. Obviously, because the bark and branches are less protected by resinous substances than, for example, Siberian fir.

The dwarf ornamental form of Nordmann's fir is the slow-growing plant "Golden Spreader" with a spreading crown. In culture since 1961.

Pay attention to the photo of the Caucasian fir of this variety - its needles are yellow-colored on top and yellow-white below, the length of the needles is 10-25 mm, the width is 2 mm:

Caucasian fir
Caucasian fir

This is a great plant for decorating small gardens, can be used to decorate the bare trunks of other conifers, grows well in their shade.

Balsam fir in the photo

This is a North American fir that grows wild in Canada. It can grow in the Far North, in the tundra, where it forms dwarf-type thickets. She is not afraid of marshy places, near water bodies - the place for this fir is ideal.

The balsam fir coniferous tree has very fragrant dark green needles and resinous buds. The name itself speaks of the value of this pita as a balsam. They are saturated with bark, and young branches, and buds. The balm from this fir is of the best quality by international standards. It was called "Canadian balm" and is indispensable in microscopic practice for fixing anatomical sections. It is widely used in medicine as a bactericidal agent.

When describing balsam fir, one cannot fail to note its frost resistance. However, this tree is not drought-resistant, so it feels bad in the south. Dry air has a particularly negative effect, and dry winds are generally destructive for her.

As shown in the photo, balsam fir has decorative forms with white needles at the ends:

balsam fir
balsam fir

There are also miniature forms, but they are used in landscaping only in central Russia.

Fir "Nana" in the photo

Fir balsamic form "Hudsonic", or "Nana", - a short, slow-growing plant of a rounded shape, reaching only 60 cm in height. Needs acidic soil and full sun. Winter-hardy up to -40 °С. Best planted in autumn or winter. Her needles are dark green, short, glossy and thick.

In the wild, single-colored fir is a tree up to 30 m in height. Young shoots are yellowish-green, glabrous or slightly pubescent. The bark of the trunks is gray, initially smooth, then deeply fissured. Buds are spherical, yellowish, resinous.

Decorative monochrome fir in the photo

The needles are linear, 4-7 cm long, up to 2.5 mm wide, bluntly pointed or blunt at the top, narrowed towards the base. The description of the needles of a single-color fir follows from its name - the needles on both sides are one-color, gray-gray, bluish or grayish-green, dull, comb-shaped on the side shoots, somewhat curved.

Cones of decorative monochrome fir

Cones are oval-cylindrical, 8-12 cm long, 3-5 cm thick, adults are light brown, slightly resinous. Covering scales are half as long as seed scales, finely dentate along the outer edge, with a pointed end in the middle.

Seeds 10-12 mm long, wedge-shaped, light brown, with a 15-20 mm wing, ripen in October.

This is an excellent decorative fir for the garden, in addition, it is among the relatively hardy ones, which are not even so dangerous for air pollution. It is undemanding to soil and climate, propagated by seeds.

Of the dwarf forms of one-color fir, "Glauka Compacta" is very popular.. It is characterized by a dense asymmetrical crown shape and catchy gray-blue needles. This culture is suitable for larger rock gardens, it can be planted next to them, as well as placed in the middle of the lawn and in small gardens.

Look at the photo - in a single-color fir, the grayish-bluish color of the needles contrasts with the juicy green or green color of other conifers with a golden tint:

Fir "Glauka Compacta"
Fir "Glauka Compacta"

Single-flowered fir is advisable to use for the conditions of the arid south, southeast. Its homeland is North America, it grows along rivers, on shady slopes. The tree is beautiful, slender, with a waxy matte-gray crown. The needles are long - up to 5-6 cm, have the smell of lemon.

The plant is very photophilous. Extremely durable. Unpretentious in culture, grows on any soil, even saline. The tree is drought and frost resistant and in landscaping middle lane Russia is very popular, because it is so beautiful, so durable. Life span - 350 years.

As you can see in the photo, this decorative fir has shapes with silver-white needles, white-blue, golden or pale yellow, as well as dwarf and weeping:

decorative fir
decorative fir

Of great interest are also firs of eastern origin - from Korea, Northern China, from the Far East.

Korean fir as an adult, it seems too bulky for a small garden, but, nevertheless, it is quite suitable for such use. It will take many years before this plant reaches 2-4 m in height. It grows slowly. It often happens that the crown diameter of an old Korean fir is larger than the height of the entire plant.

Korean fir
Korean fir

Pay attention to the photo - this type of fir has very beautiful, dense, juicy green needles on top and white below, and most importantly, attractive purple cones that appear even on a young tree.

Dwarf fir "Silberlok" in the photo

This species has a dwarf form "Silberlock". The plant reaches only 80 cm in height - small dark green needles are white on the underside. Cones are dark red, 10 cm long, scatter seeds when ripe. Winter hardiness up to -29 °С.

Vicha fir in the photo

Vicha Fir originally from Japan. She is very unusual and decorative with her falling branches with soft, curved needles. Grows fast when young. Winter-hardy and resistant to smoke, smog, gases. But loves light and fertile soil.

Silver fir also from Japan. The tree naturally grows in the mountains. Unlike Vicha, it has resinous buds. In Russia, it successfully grows on the Black Sea coast, and in the European part it loses all its majesty, reaching a height of 20-25 m.

As shown in the photo, this type of fir in Japan is often cultivated as a bonsai, and in its natural form it is an adornment of parks, temples, castles.

Vetkhova fir- a tall species, is a slender tree, reaching 20 m in height and 4 m in crown diameter. She has thick shiny dark green needles with a silvery sheen on the underside. Every year this tree grows about 70 cm high and 20 cm wide. It is planted mainly singly in large gardens.

fir high, or gigantic- a species from North America, found in the mountains at an altitude of 2100 m above sea level, where it reaches a height of up to 100 m. Of course, in Europe it does not happen so high, but it grows successfully, being unpretentious.

fir pretty is also a powerful tree. Grows wild in North America. Its distinctive feature is long (up to 3 cm) needles with the smell of orange. Buds and young branches are resinous.

Fir trees were the decoration of gardens in Ancient Greece. Several Mediterranean species are known to be of historical interest.

Fir pretty, form "Spread Star"- a tree up to 90 cm in height, with low-growing spreading branches.

Look at the photo - this variety of fir eventually forms a carpet 3-3.5 m wide:

Grows best in acidic soil and full sun. Winter-hardy down to -23 °C. Best planted in autumn or winter.

Greek fir (Parnassian), according to legend, was used to build Trojan horse. Its feature is the spiral arrangement of needles. It grows in the mountains of Greece. We feel good in Sochi.

Spanish fir found in the limestone mountains of southern Spain at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. This is a relatively low tree, up to 25 m, very beautiful with its dense crown.

As you can see in the photo, the needles of this fir tree are short, but thick and hard, which is not typical for other fir trees:

They are arranged in a spiral, because of which there are no gaps in the crown. The species is thermophilic, frost-resistant, undemanding to soils. In landscaping it is used on the Black Sea coast and in the Crimea.

Fraser Fir
Fraser fir

Fraser fir- an alien from North America, a very stable and decorative look. The tree is low, slender. The needles are short, resinous buds. The species is winter-hardy and drought-resistant, but does not tolerate urban conditions well.

subalpine fir promising for central Russia and the Chernozem region. In the wild, it is found in Alaska, where it lives high in the mountains. The tree grows very slowly, reaching 20 m in height by the age of 200. The buds are resinous, the needles are relatively long, up to 4 cm. The species is unpretentious in culture.

There is a dwarf form - "Compact", which is used when growing in containers.

Sakhalin fir
Sakhalin fir

Sakhalin fir found in the south of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands on wooded mountains. In landscaping it is used in the middle latitudes of Russia. The tree is very decorative. The correct conical shape, smooth bark, soft blunt needles - these are the main parameters of its appearance. Gives good seeds. Cones are ellipsoid, up to 7 cm long. Seeds are yellow or brown with a purple wing. It is moisture-loving, frost-resistant, although the needles freeze slightly during spring frosts, it is unpretentious in culture.

Propagation of fir seeds and cuttings

The main method of propagation of fir is by seeds. Cones ripen in the year of flowering, in early autumn (September). They must be collected as soon as the subtle divergence of the scales begins, otherwise they will crack and crumble.

It is better to sow seeds in the spring after a monthly stratification. When sowing, the land should be warm, which increases the germination of seeds and will allow you to get away from spring frosts.

Seedlings need a mandatory shade, otherwise sunburn they will be destroyed. An equally important operation for caring for seedlings is soil mulching, which will protect the weak root system from overheating and save us from overgrowing with weeds.

Seedlings are kept in one place for 3 years. Then they are transplanted at the very beginning of autumn into growing ridges, giving a feeding area of ​​15 x 20 cm. Seedlings are transplanted so that they can take root before winter.

After another 3-4 years, fir can be planted in a permanent place with a clod of earth in early spring or early autumn.

Perhaps vegetative propagation- cuttings and layering. These methods are very laborious, but allow you to completely save individual characteristics plants.

When propagating garden forms, the vegetative method, in particular cuttings, is preferred.

The best cuttings for propagation of fir are annual lateral shoots 7-10 cm long with small apical buds from branches of the 2nd-3rd order. They are cut off with a “heel” or broken out. Cuttings are harvested in early spring during the spring sap flow. Planted in sand to a depth of 1.5 cm, sprayed regularly, covered with polyethylene and placed in a shaded place. In the first 2-3 weeks, this regimen is maintained. Periodic ventilation is necessary, but without drafts. Roots are formed in 2-3 months.

In nature, fir is easily propagated both by seeds and vegetatively (by layering). Seeds germinate quickly even when self-sowing, and the lower branches, in contact with the ground, take root, giving numerous layering. They grow in the form of elfin when the connection with the mother plant is lost.

Decorative forms of fir are propagated by cuttings taken only from young plants.

Growing conditions and care of firs

All firs grow well in open places in single trees and in groups. They are demanding on soil and air humidity. Frost-resistant, do not endure burning, smog of urban conditions. Fir is more demanding than other conifers in terms of growing conditions. They are photophilous and only at a young age tolerate shading. Soils prefer clay-sandy, moderately moist, rich in nutrients and cannot tolerate high level groundwater.

One of the important conditions for growing fir is a place protected from the winds and clean air, since these trees cannot stand gas pollution and smoke at all and are better suited for suburban summer cottages.

Fir - photophilous plants. In thickened and shaded plantings, they are not very decorative. The typical shape of the fir crown will be formed only in open places.

It is not necessary to form a fir crown during the growth process, but making sure that the seedlings do not have two peaks is a must. If there are two peaks, which is possible when the top is broken or damaged by pests, the weaker one must be removed, and the sooner the better.

- Abies arizonica

Birthplace: Southwestern United States, Arizona.
Description of the plant: a tree up to 15 m high. It grows slowly, especially when young. It is close to the subalpine fir and is often considered a variety of it. Differs in smaller size, whitish, thick and heavily suberized bark, smaller cones. The needles are notched at the top, correctly, comb-shaped, located, lighter below than those of subalpine fir, thanks to which the crown has a beautiful silvery-bluish tint. Winter hardiness: high.
Growing Features: Grow in fertile, moist, light and well-drained soils. Like other firs, it can be damaged by Hermes. Shade-tolerant.
Reproduction: seeds. Garden forms semi-woody green cuttings or grafting.
Use: for single landings and small groups. In culture, it is usually small and can be used for small gardens, home gardens, rock gardens, heather gardens and rocky hills.
Note: very winter-hardy, beautiful blue fir, relatively small in size. In addition to needles, the color of the bark is decorative.

4

- Abies balsamea

One of the main forest-forming species of North America, where it grows in the zone of coniferous forests. In the mountains it rises to the border of the forest (1500-2500 m), but more often grows in the lowlands and near drains, along with species of spruce, arborvitae, hemlock, pine and hardwoods.
When a tree reaches the age of 50-90 years, its wood is often affected by rot.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A slender tree with a regular, cone-shaped or narrow pyramidal, dense crown, descending from solitary trees to the ground. The lower branches, covered with humus, take root easily. At the same time, young trees growing around the mother plant create a very effective group. The bark is gray-brown, smooth, with large resinous nodules. Buds are spherical, resinous, with a pleasant aroma. It reacts negatively to trampling the soil and breaking off branches. The species has a superficial root system, therefore it is prone to windblow.
It grows relatively fast.

Latin name Abies balsamea.
area Canada from the Atlantic coast to Alberta; the southern border runs through the state of Minnesota and upstate New York in the United States.
Size of an adult plant A tree 15-25 m high and with a trunk diameter of 0.5-0.8 m.
decorative Very decorative, thanks to the numerous young dark purple buds.
needle shape Dark green, blunt, fragrant needles, shiny above, below - with two whitish stripes, 1.5-3.5 cm long. It is located on shoots in several rows one above the other, functions up to 5 years.
Time and form of flowering
cones Gray-brown, very resinous, oval-cylindrical cones, 5-10 cm long and 2-2.5 cm thick. They crumble in October. Seeds with a small wing, brown in color with a purple tint, have a size of 5-8 mm. Abundant seed crops are repeated in 2-3 years. The species enters fruiting from 20-30 years.
Soil Requirements Prefers loamy moist soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
The species is quite gas resistant.
Frost resistance Kind of frost-resistant in all areas of horticulture.
Shelter for the winter
Lifespan Lives up to 150-200 years.

- Abies alba

This species grows at an altitude of 300-2000 m above sea level, forming both pure forests and mixed with beech and spruce. White fir (European) wood is white, without resin passages, resistant to rot, dries well, splits, saws, planed and veneered, due to which it is widely used as a building and ornamental material.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is cone-shaped, almost cylindrical in old age, with a blunt nest-like apex, the bark is light gray, smooth, sometimes with a reddish tinge, cracking in the lower part with age. The trunk is well cleared of branches, the branches, slightly raised upwards, depart from the trunk almost horizontally. The kidneys are light brown, non-resinous. The deep tap root system gives this species wind resistance.

Latin name Abies alba.
area Carpathians, mountains of Central and Southern Europe.
Size of an adult plant Tree 30-60 m high and trunk diameter up to 2 m.
decorative The view is decorative due to the beautiful shape of the crown.
needle shape The needles are flat, blunt, above - dark green, shiny, below - with clearly visible two
white stripes, 2-3 cm long. It keeps on shoots for 6-9 years.
Time and form of flowering The flowering of the species begins in the spring.
cones Female cones - green, vertical, single,
formed near the ends of last year's shoots, male cones are yellow or purple, sitting alone in the axils of last year's shoot needles. Mature resinous, dark brown cones 10-16 cm long and 3-4 cm thick have an oval-cylindrical shape and a blunt top. Yellowish seeds 7-10 mm long ripen in the fall of the first year and crumble along with the scales of the cones, leaving rods on the shoots that stick out on the branches for a long time. At the time of seed production, this species enters from 20-50 years.
Soil Requirements It does not tolerate both dryness and waterlogging of the soil. Prefers to grow in moist fertile soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low: View is sensitive to smoke and gas.
Frost resistance Type of frost-resistant in the southern and middle zones of horticulture.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives up to 300-400 years.

- Abies nephrolepis

Origin: Far East, China, Korea.
Description of the plant: a tree up to 25 (30) m high, with a trunk 35 cm in diameter, with a dense cone-shaped crown. The bark in youth is light gray smooth, cracking and darkening in old trees. Young shoots are yellowish, pubescent, with a slight longitudinal striation. Kidneys are covered with thick resin in winter. The needles are 10-25 (30) mm long, dark green, shiny above, with two whitish stomatal stripes below. Cones 5-7 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide, first reddish, then dark purple, crumble in October.
Winter hardiness: high, but sometimes subject to late spring frosts.
Growing features: the plant requires high humidity, does not like overdrying. Grow in deep loose, moist, loamy or sandy loamy soils. Reproduction: seeds.
Usage: for single landings, groups and alleys.
Note: close to Siberian fir, but considered less decorative (not so long needles and less beautiful shape crowns) and more demanding on air humidity.

- Abies grandis

Great Fir is one of the most beautiful conifers growing on the Pacific coast of North America. This fast-growing forest-forming tree species grows in the mountains at an altitude of up to 2100 m above sea level. In the "rain" forest of Olympic National Park (Washington State), some specimens reach a height of 80 m with a crown diameter of up to 1.5 m.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is cone-shaped, in open areas it starts from the ground itself. The bark is dark brown, thin, with age reaches a thickness of 5-9 cm and cracks.
Despite the decorativeness of the great fir, this plant is rarely used in landscaping because of its sufficient high demands to growing conditions and climate. In Russia, this species can occasionally be found in the botanical gardens of the Black Sea coast.

Latin name Abies grandis.
area Grows on the Pacific coast of North America.
Size of an adult plant Tree 35-90 m high and trunk diameter 80-120 cm.
decorative Crown shape, needles, cones.
needle shape Dark green needles have a tetrahedral shape.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in spring.
cones Cones 6-10 cm long.
Soil Requirements Prefers moderately moist fertile soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan 250-300 years.

- Abies magnifica

Height: up to 70 m.
Range: Sierra Nevada and Klamath mountains (California, USA); Cascade Mountains (Oregon, USA).
Habitat: coniferous forests on the steep slopes of the mountains of the temperate zone (at an altitude of 1400-2750 m).
Fir grows in the mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere and forms both pure forest stands (fir forests) and mixed forests with other coniferous species. Resinous fir branches are covered with flat, rather soft needles, and their cones, like candles, stick out with their tops up and are concentrated mainly in the upper parts of the crowns. Fir cones form every year. Thick branches extend from the straight trunk in whorls, sometimes reaching the very ground. The narrow cone-shaped crown gives the tree a strict, solemn look. Some magnificent fir trees are over 600 years old, and their trunk diameter reaches 2 m. On low mountain slopes, these trees grow very quickly and provide excellent construction wood. Slightly curved needles are located on the branches of fir, magnificent like bristles of a toothbrush. The young needles of the tree are silver-blue in color, and its cones reach a length of 23 cm - these are the largest cones of all types of fir.

- Abies veitchii

Wicha fir grows naturally in the mountains of Japan, forming pure or mixed stands with spruces, other types of fir and hemlock at an altitude of 1300-2300 m above sea level.
Its wood, devoid of resin passages, soft and light, is used for pulp and paper production. In addition, some musical instruments are made from it due to the fact that Wicha fir wood has good resonant properties.
Phytoncides secreted by this tree purify the air from bacteria.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
Slender tree with short, horizontal branches forming a loose, pyramidal crown. The bark on the trunks is grayish and smooth, even on older trees. The kidneys are small, rounded, with abundant lubrication with vitreous resin.
In youth, it is characterized by rapid growth. Being a very decorative species, Vicha fir can be used for landscaping in the western regions of the European part of Russia.

Latin name Abies veitchii.
area Mountains of Japan.
Size of an adult plant Tree up to 30-40 m high.
decorative
Crown shape, needles, cones. One of the most decorative types of fir.
needle shape The needles are soft, noticeably curved, up to 2.5 cm in length, shiny, dark green above, with clearly visible white stripes below. This gives the tree a silvery-white tint in windy weather.
Time and form of flowering The species blooms in spring.
cones Cones up to 7 cm long, purple-purple when young, later brown scales broadly cylindrical, 6-7 cm long. Seeds yellowish, with a short wing.
Soil Requirements Prefers to grow in fertile soils.
Attitude towards light The view is demanding of light.
Urban resistance More than other species resistant to smoke and gases.
Frost resistance Frost-resistant type.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives 200-300 years.

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- Abies pinsapo

The range of Spanish fir in the XX century. greatly reduced. It can be found in the southern part of Spain and in some parts of North Africa, where it grows in the upper belt of mountains at an altitude of 1000 to 2000 m above sea level, forming small pure stands or plantations with an admixture of Atlantic cedar, oak, pine and juniper.
The soft wood of Spanish fir is used to make boxes, pulp, and also for fuel, and fir oil is extracted from its needles.
Recent studies related to Spanish fir have shown that this plant appeared on Earth even before the Ice Age. Now scientists are trying to establish how it could survive.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
This type of fir was discovered in 1837 by the Swiss botanist Edmond Boisser during one of his visits to the south of the Iberian Peninsula.
The crown is wide, cone-shaped, low lowered, with horizontally arranged branches. The bark is dark gray, smooth, becoming cracked with age. Young shoots are bare, buds are highly resinous.

- Abies gracilis

Homeland: the only grove in the world on an area of ​​​​about 20 hectares is located in Russia, at the mouth of the river. Semyachik, on the Pacific coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Description of the plant: a tree up to 13-15 m high, with a dense oval-pyramidal crown. The needles are 10-30 mm long, dark green, shiny above, lighter below, with two whitish stripes. Cones 2.5-5 cm long, almost cylindrical.
Winter hardiness: high. Promising for breeding in northern latitudes, where other firs cannot withstand frost and short summers.
Features of cultivation: grows very slowly both in nature and in culture.
Reproduction: seeds.
Use: for rock gardens and small parks and gardens.
Note: close to Sakhalin fir and white fir. Differs in shorter needles, smaller cones, features of the structure of the bark, the shape of the seed and cover scales and the shape of the seed wing.

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- Abies korean
Korean fir grows in the mountains in the south of the Korean Peninsula at an altitude of 100 to 1850 m above sea level, forming pure or mixed forests. For the first time this species was found in 1907 on the island of Chechzhudo. However, the plant received its official name only in 1920 after its careful study by French botanists.
High-quality Korean fir wood is an excellent raw material for the pulp and paper industry.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
This species has a rough bark. Its young yellowish shoots are covered with fine hairs. Later they acquire a reddish tint.
Korean fir is filled with grace and charm. Already at a young age, she begins to bear fruit abundantly. Gorgeous, upward pointing purple-purple buds against a backdrop of bright green needles give the tree an irresistible look. Due to its decorative effect, it is widely cultivated, including in the north-west of Russia.

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- Abies normanniana
This species usually forms pure fir forests and forests mixed with oriental spruce, aspen, maple, mountain ash, located at an altitude of 1200 to 2000 m above sea level.
Nordmann fir has high quality wood, which is an excellent raw material for the pulp and paper industry and construction.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A tree with a dense narrow pyramidal crown, a straight trunk and slightly raised branches. The bark of the trunk is smooth, gray, with small cracks and elliptical marks from fallen branches. Young shoots are yellowish-green, pubescent, later becoming brownish-brown and glabrous. Kidneys do not contain resin, slightly pubescent. The species is wind-resistant due to the developed root system.
Nordmann fir grows rapidly and retains growth until old age.

Latin name Abies normanniana.
area Western part of the Main Caucasian Range, Türkiye.
Size of an adult plant Powerful tree up to 50-70 m high and trunk diameter up to 2 m.
decorative The view is extremely decorative due to its slenderness, beautiful pyramidal crown, as well as dark and dense needles.
needle shape The needles are up to 4 cm long, dark green, shiny, with two bright white stripes below, so the crown appears silvery in the wind. The needles remain on the tree for 9-13 years.
Time and form of flowering It blooms in early May, male cones are reddish, young female cones are slightly convex laterally, at first they have a greenish color.
cones The cones are oval-cylindrical, 12-20 cm long and 4-5 cm in diameter. After maturation, they become brownish-brown and resinous, with long, sharp endings bent back.
Soil Requirements The species is demanding on air humidity, prefers fresh, deep loams with an admixture of chernozem. However, it can also grow on calcareous soils.
Attitude towards light The species is exceptionally shade-tolerant, but grows well in lighted places.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance The species is moderately hardy. Withstands short-term temperature drops down to -25°.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan The species is durable, lives up to 500-800 years.

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- Abies concolor

This species is native to North America. Single-color fir plantations are usually
located on shady slopes and along rivers at altitudes from 700 to 1000-2000 m
above sea level, and sometimes, for example in the Rocky Mountains, they rise to a height
up to 2400-3000 m.
The plant is very decorative, due to which it is widely cultivated in many countries, including Russia, where monochromatic fir is grown in the central and northwestern regions. Forms with bluish and silver needles are especially popular with gardeners, which can decorate any personal plot.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
A large tree with a dense, cone-shaped, low-drooping crown, which becomes rarer with age. The branches are horizontal. The thick ash-gray bark has deep longitudinal cracks. Buds are spherical and resinous.
It grows slowly: at 5 years old it reaches a height of 1.1 m, and at 10 years old - 2.2 m.
Significantly benefit from single and group plantings, which are located against the background of larches, especially in autumn, when their needles turn yellow, and the bluish tint of fir becomes the brightest.

Latin name Abies concolor.
area It grows in the mountains of western North America along the Pacific coast.
Size of an adult plant A tree 40-50 m high and with a trunk diameter of 1-1.5 m.
decorative One of the most decorative types of fir.
needle shape Narrow soft needles, 5-8 m long, have a lemon smell. It is dull bluish-green on both sides, which determines its specific name.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in May.
cones This species bears fruit every 3 years. Oval-cylindrical, dark purple cones 8-15 cm long. Light brown seeds with a pinkish wing, 12-13 mm long.
Soil Requirements The species is undemanding to the soil. Grows well in dry sandy soils.
Attitude towards light It is the most light-loving species.
Urban resistance It tolerates smoke and gas pollution well.
Frost resistance Type of frost-resistant in the southern and middle zone of gardening.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives up to 350 years.

- Abies homolepis

The name of this species refers to the structure of its grayish-pink bark, which becomes scaly with age.
IN natural plantations Equal scale fir grows in the central regions of Japan. There, high in the mountains, this majestic tree (its height reaches 35-40 meters) forms pure or mixed stands.
The soft and light wood of the equal scale fir is valued for its resistance to rot. However, it is not strong enough, therefore it is mainly used as a raw material for the paper industry.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is pyramidal, with horizontally arranged smooth gray or brown branches. The grayish bark has longitudinal cracks. Brown resinous buds, 10-14 mm in diameter, have an ovoid or ovoid-conical shape.
As an ornamental breed, it is suitable for the middle and southern gardening zones.

Latin name Abies homolepis.
area Mountains of Japan.
Size of an adult plant A tree with a height of 25-40 m and a crown diameter of 1-5 m.
decorative Crown shape, beautiful bark and needles.
needle shape The needles are 1-3 cm long and 1-3 cm wide, dark green above and bluish below.
Time and form of flowering The flowering of the species occurs in May. Male cones, 1.4 cm long and 7 mm wide, are egg-shaped. Female cones are cylindrical, dark purple.
cones Brown cones 7-10 cm long and 3-4 cm wide.
Soil Requirements Prefers fertile moist soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance Type of frost-resistant in the southern and middle zone of gardening.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Lives up to 300 years.

- Abies sachalinensis

Origin: Sakhalin Island Kurile Islands; Japan (Hokkaido island).
Description of the plant: a tree up to 40 m high, with a dense, conical, sharp crown. The bark is smooth, light gray, longitudinally fissured on old trunks. Young shoots are reddish-brown, densely covered with coarse hairs. Kidneys are small, oval-ovoid, densely resinous. The needles are 18-40 mm long, soft, with a rounded or weakly eminent apex, sharp on cone-bearing shoots; above - dark green, below - with two whitish stripes, located densely and flat. Cones 5-8 cm long.
Winter hardiness: high.
Features of cultivation: exacting to air humidity.
Reproduction: seeds.
Use: perfect for solitary, group and avenue plantings.
Note: quite valuable in terms of forestry, as it is relatively little susceptible to wood rot.

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- Abies procera

Silver fir, or noble, grows on the Pacific coast of North America at an altitude of 1070-1680 m above sea level.
Very strong wood of this type has always been in great demand and is widely used in the construction and aviation industries in the United States. Sometimes lumberjacks passed it off as the wood of other trees in order to avoid fines for the extermination of this valuable tree species.
In addition, silver fir accounts for 12% of the total Christmas tree sales in the northwestern United States due to its decorative effect.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
It has a slender, narrow, cone-shaped crown. The species prefers humid and warm climates.
Differs in very slow growth, especially at a young age. The height of a seven-year-old tree is about 50 cm.
This species has several varieties that differ in the shape of the crown and the color of the needles. Unfortunately, in Russia they are rare.

Latin name abies procera,
area It is found naturally along the Pacific coast of North America.
Size of an adult plant A tree up to 80 m high and with a trunk diameter of 220 cm.
decorative Crown shape, needles.
needle shape The needles are soft and flat, 1-3 cm long and 0.2 cm wide. It has a pungent aroma, vaguely reminiscent of the smell of turpentine.
Time and form of flowering Flowering species begins in May. The female cones are at the top of the crown, while the male ones are just below. The development of male cones directly depends on the ambient temperature and humidity.
cones The formation of the cone ends in August of the same year. Light brown seeds fall in late September - early October.
Soil Requirements The species is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but prefers moist areas for growth.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance Low. The species is thermophilic.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan Over 300 years

Evergreen tree, 30-40 m tall. The bark is gray, smooth, with a large number resin glands. The needles of fir are from 1.5 to 3 cm long, soft, flat, notched at the tip, shiny, with two stomatal strips on the underside.
Natural range: Siberia, Europe, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Northeast China. In Altai and in the Sayan Mountains it rises up to 2200 m above sea level. seas. In the highlands, the dwarf form is found.
In the early years it grows slowly. Winter hardiness 1. Shade-tolerant. Non-gas resistant. Prefers moist, rich soils and high air humidity, especially at a young age, although it grows satisfactorily on relatively poor and insufficiently moistened soils. In the latter case, only the rate of its growth decreases, and, consequently, the annual increase.
Fir cones develop in the upper part of the crown, erect, do not fall off entirely, but crumble in the crown of the tree in late September-early October. Fir does not bear fruit annually. Like most pine trees, breaks in abundant fruiting can reach 3-4 years. The beginning of active fruiting occurs at 40-50 years, but in open habitats the beginning of fruiting at 15-20 years is noted.
Successfully propagated by seeds, which, when sown in spring, sprout after 3 weeks. Cold stratification of seeds at 1-4 °C for a month increases their germination and germination energy. In nature, it successfully reproduces vegetatively by rooting the lower branches or branches of fallen trees, forming an elfin form. You can sow in spring after the end of frost or in autumn, followed by growing 2-3-year-old seedlings at school. For landscaping, it is better to use large-sized seedlings, growing them at school for 4-5 years or longer.
Decorative narrow-conical dense crown. The existence of intraspecific forms, differing in the structure of the crown and the color of the needles, is known.
Along with typically dark green plants, sometimes there are specimens with bluish, yellowish-white or silver needles along the edges and an atypical crown shape (weeping, pyramidal, spherical (shrub), etc.). To preserve these characteristics, it is necessary to propagate such forms only by grafting onto a common stock.
Siberian fir is one of the most valuable coniferous species for landscape gardening and landscaping in the harsh climatic conditions of Siberia. Effective in creating small landscape groups and as a tapeworm on lawns. It is also of interest when creating large arrays.
The most important condition for the growth of Siberian fir is air humidity. The optimal amount of precipitation is at least 600-700 mm per year, although it can also grow in less humid climates.
Recently, fir has become quite often used in green building when creating landscape groups, less often in alley plantings. At the same time, it should be noted that at a young age, fir is often more demanding on soil fertility, air humidity and does not tolerate long-term exposure to direct sunlight. ...

- Abies nebrodensis
Tree up to 15 m high, with a pyramidal, dark green crown, slightly squat; trunk - straight or slightly curved. The needles spirally cover the twigs, trying to take a more even position compared to those in the shade; the length of the needles is up to 2 cm, and the width is up to 3.5 mm; the upper side of the needles is green and shiny, and the lower side is greenish-white. The male spikelets are densely flanked and appear greenish-yellow with their purple scales. Female cones stand on a short pedicel, at first they are yellowish-green, then, when ripe, they become greenish-brown and reach a length of 10 cm. They have a cylindrical shape, the apex is conical; scales bent downwards are strongly distinguished.
ORIGIN. The endemic tree of the town of Madonie in the territory of Polizzi Generosa (Angel Valley), where no more than thirty copies grow, is all that remains of the disappeared forests that once grew here. In Italy, in addition to individual specimens that grow wild in Madonia, where they can be admired, there are artificial plantings in different places of the Southern Apennines.
The tree grows at an altitude of about 1500 m above sea level - on rocky limestone soils, in climate zone between the upper border of holm oaks and beech forests; it has quite hot and dry summers, and in winter there is a lot of snow and no very low temperatures have been recorded. Now the place of the former forest is occupied by thickets that have grown on the site of the destroyed trees - with them they share the former habitat of the "Sicilian fir". The tree is under protection, as this species is listed in the international Red Book.
SIMILAR TYPES. Numidian or Algerian fir (Abies numidica) usually considered a twin of the Sicilian fir, but some scientists believe that species similar to it should be sought in "Greek fir" (Abies cephalonica), which are indeed very similar to nebrodensis. The Numidian fir has the same trunk and short needles, but the cones do not have prominent scales, while the Greek fir is slender and majestic, with long and prickly needles.

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- Abies lasiocarpa

Subalpine fir grows in mixed forests in western Arizona, at an altitude of 2400-3000 m above sea level, where it is adjacent to the Engelman spruce. The needles of this tree have a wonderful aroma.
In culture, subalpine fir has been supported since 1863. It is best cultivated in regions with a humid and warm climate. As a valuable ornamental species, this picturesque tree is widely used in landscape design. It looks especially impressive in single and group plantings.
At a young age, subalpine fir cultivars can be formed, giving the plants a more compact shape.

FEATURES OF THE VIEW
The crown is narrow-conical, stunted in the alpine zone. The young bark is smooth, silvery-gray, later grayish-brown, with a crust. Young branches are ash-gray, shortly pubescent, rarely glabrous. Buds are small, ovoid, highly resinous. The root system of this type of fir is superficial, so the breed is prone to windblows.

Latin name Abies lasiocarpa.
area Mountains of North America.
Size of an adult plant A tree up to 30 m high and with a trunk diameter of about 45-60 cm.
decorative The look is very decorative. Its purple buds look great against the green background that the needles create.
needle shape The needles are dull bluish-green above, with two white stripes below, unevenly collected in rows and directed upwards. Stays on the run for 9 years.
Time and form of flowering Blooms in spring.
cones Cones are cylindrical, numerous, side by side, oblong, 6-10 cm long. Dark purple at a young age. Covering scales 20-25 mm wide, hidden. Ripen in August. Seeds are cone-shaped, with a shiny wing.
Soil Requirements Prefers moist fertile soils.
Attitude towards light Shade-tolerant type.
Urban resistance Low.
Frost resistance Low. The plant is thermophilic.
Shelter for the winter Young plants in the first year of planting.
Lifespan More than 300 years Lives 250-300 years.

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fir tree

Fir- This is a genus of evergreen conifers belonging to the Pine family. About 50 species of fir are known, growing mainly in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Of these, Siberian fir is mainly used for medical purposes.

The Russian name of the species, presumably, comes from the Karelian word "pihka", which means "resin" in translation. It is also widely believed that the name of the genus comes from the German word "Fichte", which translates as "spruce". The Latin name of the genus - "Abies" comes from the Indo-Germanic word "abh", which translates as "abundant", which is explained by strong branching and dense foliation of branches.

Fir is a monoecious dioecious plant. This means that trees are not divided into male and female, but on each individual both male and female reproductive organs are formed.

Fir can be easily distinguished by vertically growing cones, reminiscent of candles on a festive tree. They ripen all summer, and fall in autumn or early winter season releasing seeds.

Interesting fact! A distinctive feature of fir from other conifers is that it can be propagated by layering. Its basal branches hang fairly close to the ground. When in contact with the ground, they take root, give roots, and a separate fir grows.

Fir, like spruce, gives a large shade, and in the thickets of fir there is always little light.

Forest fir begins to bloom at 60-70 years old, and growing in open space - at 30-40 years of age. The first 10 years fir grows rather slowly, and then growth accelerates. A tree can live 300-500 years, and some species can live up to 700 years.

Types of fir

Siberian fir - description, collection of medicinal raw materials

Latin: Abies sibirica

Siberian fir is the most common type of fir in Russia. The tree can reach 25 - 40 m in height. It has a narrow conical crown.

The trunk is fractured at the bottom, cylindrical at the top. The diameter of the trunk can reach 0.6 meters. The wood is light yellow, almost white.

The branches are thin, in the absence of interference descend to the ground. Young branches are very densely covered with needles.

The tree has a long central root that goes deep into the ground, from which many lateral roots extend. Thanks to a powerful root system and a columnar crown, Siberian fir is resistant even to the strongest winds. At the same time, on wet soils, the fir tree forms a surface horse system. Roots often have mycorrhiza.

The bark of the plant is smooth, moderately thin, dark gray in color. On the bark there are special thickenings called nodules. They replace the resin passages characteristic of conifers in trunks and branches. They contain fragrant thick resin, bitter in taste (also called "fir balsam"). On one fir, you can find up to six hundred of these nodular formations of various sizes.

Buds developing at the ends are resinous, spherical or rounded, well protected by numerous densely growing scales covered with resin.

Siberian fir shoots are yellow-gray, with sparse hairs. On the shoots are needles growing spirally. Leaves-needles - flat, straight or slightly curved, not prickly, with a groove in the middle; glossy, dark green; have a fragrant smell; they reach 3.5 cm in length, up to 0.2 cm in width. On the reverse side of each needle there are two whitish lines with a wax coating, each with 3-4 rows of stomata. Each leaf-needle lives 6-12 years. When falling off, a small flat scar remains on the shoot.

Interesting fact! characteristic feature fir is that the needles do not fall off even when the branches and shoots dry out. Therefore, many people prefer to buy fir for the new year - after all, when the tree dries, the needles immediately begin to crumble.

The lower branches of fir often reach a huge length (up to 10 m), growing to the sides. At the same time, they often put down their own roots and, breaking away from the mother tree, can exist independently for a long time, creating the so-called. fir elfin (unlike cedar elfin, fir is not an independent plant species).

Siberian fir blossoms in the month of May. In Siberian fir, the generative organs of reproduction form spikelets. Male spikelets are light yellow, elliptical, reach a length of 0.5 - 0.8 cm, a width of up to 0.5 cm. Pollen is formed in them. Each speck of dust has two air cavities that allow male gametophytes to travel great distances. When the male spikelet ceases to produce pollen, it falls off.

The female generative reproductive organs of Siberian fir are dark red cones, usually formed on young branches of the previous year. The cones are directed vertically upwards. In the axils of the scales, spirally growing in the cone, two ovules are formed. By the time the seeds ripen, the cones become larger (up to 10 cm in length) and acquire a light brown hue. In autumn, the cones begin to fall off. Together with the seeds, the scales also fall, and the cone rods remain on the branches for a long time. This distinguishes fir cones from the cones of other conifers.

Collection of medicinal raw materials

For the preparation of medicines, needles, buds, young branches and fir bark are harvested. Buds are harvested at the beginning - middle of spring, branches - at the end of spring, bark - in any season. Young fir needles are harvested twice a year - in summer and from October to February.

white fir

Latin: Abies alba

White fir (comb, European) is a tree reaching a height of 30-65 m, with a trunk up to two meters in diameter. The life expectancy of a plant is 300-400 years.

In young trees, the crown is elongated and pointed; over time, it becomes oval-pointed, and in old trees it becomes dull.

The bark of the plant is smooth, gray with a brownish tint.

The branches grow horizontally or at a slight upward angle.

The needles grow up to 3 cm long and 2-3 mm wide. They grow on branches parallel to each other, the tips are blunt or with a small notch. The front side of the needles is dark green, glossy, on the reverse side there are two white pores.

Young cones of white fir are green. Ripe cones are dark brown, oval, 10-17 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. Like most fir species, the cones mature and shed their scales in the first two months of autumn.

White fir seeds are quite large, up to 1 cm in length.

It has a thick tap root, usually deep into the ground, from which thinner lateral roots emanate.

Nordmann fir (Caucasian fir)

Latin: Abies nordmanniana

Nordmann fir (Caucasian fir) is a type of fir that reaches a height of 50 meters. The diameter of the trunk can reach two meters. The crown is pyramidal.

The Nordmann fir is called the Apollo fir, after the Greek god of the Sun. It is also called the Trojan horse tree - there is a legend that Caucasian fir wood was used in the construction of the horse. Today, this tree is the most popular among Europeans on Christmas Day.

In nature, it lives in the mountains of the Caucasus and in Asia Minor.

Nordmann fir has a long lifespan - up to 700 years.

The needles bloom late. It has a light green color with two white lines on the back. As it matures, the shade changes to dark green, and the needles become shiny. The needles grow forward, reaching 4 cm in length.

The bark of the Nordmann fir when young is smooth and grey. Turns brown as it matures.

Nordmann fir begins to bloom in the first half of May. The cones of the Nordmann fir are ellipsoid-cylindrical, up to 20 cm long and 4-5 wide. Male cones - reddish color, and the female ones are green at first, and when they ripen, they acquire a brownish tint, and are poured with resin.

The root system is deep. At the same time, Caucasian fir grows better on loose soils.

The tree grows quite quickly. May exist in heavily shaded environments. It is whimsical to humidity of the environment. Withstands severe frosts (up to 25 degrees below zero).

Nordmann fir is used as an ornamental tree. Below are the most popular hybrids of this type of fir:

• Golden Spreader is a dwarf hybrid with a characteristic hollow in the center of the crown. Grows slowly. In ten years it grows up to one meter. The needles are glossy, golden on the outside. On the reverse side - matte, light yellow. They are seated in rock gardens.
• Jadwiga is a variety characterized by rapid growth and a large tree height. The needles are unusually long, dark green on the outside, bright white on the back. The crown is dense, solid.
• Pendula is a slow growing hybrid. It has an elongated crown.
• bright green. The plant is quite whimsical to damage and unnatural humidity. Planted in arboretums and garden plots.

Korean fir

Latin: Abies korean

Korean fir - a type of fir, reaching a height of 15 meters, with a cone-shaped crown.

The bark of young plants is smooth, light gray, often with a red tint. In mature trees, the bark is rough, strongly cracking.

The needles form a dense cover on the branches. The needles are up to 2 cm long and 0.25 cm wide, strong, dark green on the outside, glossy on the back, with two white stripes.

The cones are cylindrical in shape. They reach 6-7 cm in length and up to 3 cm in width. When the buds ripen, they take on a purple-red hue.

The natural habitat is the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Prefers high terrain, one to two kilometers above sea level.

Fraser fir

Latin: Abies fraseri

Fraser Fir is an ornamental variety of fir. It grows up to 12 m in height and up to 50 cm in width. Has a conical crown. Natural habitat - North America. It is characterized by fluffy needles, silvery below, small cones with protruding covering scales.

Fraser fir can withstand severe frosts well.

Balsam fir

Latin: Abies balsamea

Balsam fir is a tree belonging to the genus fir, reaching 20-25 m in height. The pyramidal crown descends to the very ground.

Balsam fir lives up to 150-200 years.

The bark of the plant is gray-brown, smooth.

Needles from 1.5 to 2.5 cm in length, blunt or notched at the end. Dark green on the front side, glossy on the reverse side, with white lines.

Cones - oval-cylindrical, up to 10 cm long and 0.2-0.25 cm wide.

Roots are shallow.

It grows in North America, mainly in eastern and central Canada, and in the north of the USA.

In the vast majority of cases, Siberian fir (Abies sibirica) is used for the preparation of medicines in official and traditional medicine.

Compound

Fir balm

From fir balsam get a number of useful products. The most important of them are: turpentine, diterpene alcohol, abenol, abietic acid, neoabietic acid, resins.

Fir balm (gum) contains the following substances:

• Essential oil (up to 30%);
• Resins (up to 70%).

Wood

Fir wood contains more than 4% essential oil, which is more than 80% camphor. The most useful essential oil is found in the shoots and thin young branches of the tree.

Roots

Fir roots are also rich in essential oil (about 8%). The composition of the essential oil of fir roots is represented mainly by camphor, safrole and cineole (eucalyptol).

In addition to camphor, fir essential oil contains substances such as:

• Camphen;
• Byzabolen;
• Camphorene;
• Acetylaldehyde;
• organic acids.

fir seeds

Fir seeds are rich in hard fatty oils(up to 30%), which consist of acylglycerols of lauric, carmic and oleic acids, and also contain a large percentage of vitamin E.

Bark

Fir bark is rich in tannins - their content reaches 13%. But most of all, the bark contains resin (fir balsam) - up to 16%.

Fir composition:

• Flavonoids;
• Phytosterols;
• Vitamin C (more than 0.3% in needles);
• Carotene;
• Tocopherols.

The composition of fir oil

The volume and composition of fir oil in needles and tree bark undergo changes throughout the year. The largest volume of essential oil from fir needles can be obtained at the end of spring and at the end of the growing season. It is noteworthy that just at this time the bark contains the smallest percentage of essential oils. As for the change in the qualitative composition of fir oil, it should be taken into account that the most important substance in its composition, bornyl acetate, reaches its maximum concentration in late autumn and early winter.

The substance most significant in terms of human health benefits, which is part of fir essential oil, is bornyl acetate, which is an ester of borneol and acetic acid. In addition, the essential oil of all parts of fir contains the following substances:

• Tannins;
• Vitamin C;
• Carotene;
• Tocopherols;
• Borneol;
• Camphen;
• alpha-pinene;
• beta pinene;
• Dipentene;
• Phelandren;
• A-phellandrene;
• Santen;
• Painless.

Fir resin is 50% resin acid.

Tannins
Action:

• Tannins have the property of creating insoluble molecular bonds with salts of alkaloids and heavy metals. Due to this, they are actively used in the manufacture of antidotes for oral poisoning with morphine, cocaine, atropine, mercury, cobalt, lead, etc.;
• Have an anti-inflammatory effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
• Have a vasoconstrictive effect on the intestinal wall;
• They have an antibacterial effect against staphylococci and other bacterial infections;
• Show hemostatic properties;
• They serve as an excellent antidote for bee stings.

Ascorbic acid
Action:

• Is a strong antioxidant;
• Takes part in the synthesis of steroids, collagen, procollagen, L-carnitine, serotonin;
• Regulates the permeability of capillary walls by inhibiting the activity of hyaluronidase;
• Plays an important role in the metabolism of cholesterol and pigment substances;
• Normalizes the separation of bile;
• Normalizes the secretory function of the pancreas and the endocrine function of the thyroid gland;
• Plays an important role in the regulation immune system increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases;
• Possesses anti-inflammatory and antiallergic action;
• Slows down the secretion and accelerates the decomposition of the hormone histamine.

Carotene
Action:

• It has a strong antioxidant effect, protects cell membranes from destruction by free radicals;
• Plays an important role in the formation of new epithelial tissue cells, normalizes their functions and increases resistance to infections;
• Protects the skin from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation;
• Has antixerophthalmic action;
• Increases the body's resistance to malignant processes;
• Provides night vision along with vitamin A.

Vitamin E
The action of tocopherols:

• Has an antioxidant effect;
• Participates in tissue metabolic processes;
• Prevents the destruction of red blood cells;
• Reduces permeability and fragility of small vessels;
• Normalizes reproductive function;
• Prevents the occurrence of atherosclerosis;
• Prevents degenerative-dystrophic processes in the heart and striated muscles, normalizes nutrition muscle tissue and hearts;
• Activates the formation of a number of proteins in the body, including collagen;
• Slows down the formation of cholesterol in the body;
• activates the formation of heme and heme-containing enzymes - hemoglobin, myoglobin, etc.

The composition of fir needles

Fir needles contain essential oil (3-3.5%). Obtaining essential oil from fir needles, it is used as a basis for obtaining camphor.

The composition of fir needles includes the following substances:

• Carotene;
• Carbohydrates;
• Proteins;
• Vitamins C, E;
• Phytoncides;
• Flavonoids;
• Trace elements: cobalt, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and some lead.

Phytoncides
Phytoncides in the composition of fir have a pronounced bactericidal effect. That is why fir preparations are recommended for use in colds. Fir phytoncides are so strong that in some aspects they are stronger than antibiotics. However, they are not harmful to health.

Flavonoids
Flavonoids are not very stable compounds. Therefore, with improper preparation or storage, they are destroyed, and the product does not carry their benefit. Flavonoids have a number of properties in relation to the human body:

• vasodilating;
• vascular strengthening;
• decongestant, venostabilizing;
• anti-sclerotic;
• immunostimulating;
• hypotensive;
• antitumor;
• antioxidant;
• antihypoxic;
• anti-allergic;
• estrogen-like;
• detoxifying, etc.

trace elements
Iron:

• Hemoglobin, which includes iron, provides oxygen transport to all tissues;
• Myoglobin, which also contains iron, supplies oxygen to muscle cells and can store it;
• Takes part in DNA synthesis, therefore it is required for cell division and growth;
• Plays an important role in protein metabolism;
• Necessary for the formation of thyroid hormones, which are responsible for the regulation of a number of metabolic processes;
• Participates in the maintenance of immunity.

Zinc:

• Prevents premature aging, prolongs the life of cells, improves their condition, promotes their regeneration due to the ability to stimulate the synthesis of insulin-like growth factor, testosterone and somatotropin;
• Has a healing effect;
• Participates in the synthesis of a number of enzymes;
• It is found in the endocrine glands, blood cells, liver, kidneys, retina;
• contributes to the maintenance of immunity;
• necessary for the growth process;
• regulates hormonal balance, influencing the work of the lower cerebral appendage, pancreas and gonads.

Cobalt:

• Takes part in the synthesis of hemoglobin;
• Stimulates the growth of red blood cells, thereby improving the delivery of oxygen to all tissues;
• It is a component of cyanocobalamin;
• Cobalt can accumulate in the liver, and from there it can be transported to all organs and tissues;
• Participates in the absorption of iron by the body;
• Normalizes the functioning of the nervous system, participates in the formation of the myelin layer of the brain;
• Improves metabolism;
• Starts the process of formation of DNA and RNA, which are carriers of genetic information;
• Activates bone growth; this is of great importance for children and women during menopause, in which bone mass decreases due to hormonal changes.

Manganese:

• Endogenous formation of the most important components of bones and cartilage; ensuring the correct structure of bones;
• Participates in the metabolism of iron;
• Participates in the formation and metabolism of cholesterol;
• Plays an important role in the oxidation of dextrose;
• Ensures the absorption of copper by the body, and together with it takes part in hematopoiesis;
• Activation of a number of important enzymes, as well as ascorbic acid, B-group vitamins, biotin;
• Necessary for the formation of the thyroid hormone thyroxine.

Copper:

• Participates in the synthesis of a number of proteins and enzymes;
• Needed to convert iron to hemoglobin protein;
• responsible for the activity of the aromatic amino acid tyrosine, which plays an important role in establishing skin and hair color;
• Participates in the formation of collagen, thereby strengthening bones;
• promotes the synthesis of elastin - an elastic protein responsible for the elasticity of connective tissue;
• Stimulates the activity of hormones of the lower cerebral appendage;
• regulates the functions of the endocrine system;
• serves as an essential component of the myelin coating of neurons, without which they are not able to transmit impulses, and are destroyed.

Fir properties

• General strengthening;
• Tonic;
• Adaptogenic;
• expectorant;
• Diuretic;
• Disinfectant;
• Antibacterial;
• Anesthetic;
• Detoxification;
• Anti-inflammatory.

What pathologies does fir help with?

• Cough;
• Runny nose;
• SARS;
• Tuberculosis;
• flu, cold;
• Acute and chronic tonsillitis;
• Bronchitis;
• Inflammation of the lungs (in particular, croupous pneumonia);
• Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve;
• Sinusitis;
• Wounds, damage to the skin;
• Diathesis in a child;
• Inflammation of the gums and oral cavity;
• Pain in the tooth, periodontal disease, stomatitis, gingivitis, etc.;
• arthrosis;
• Rheumatism, sciatica;
• Osteochondrosis;
• angina;
• Oncological diseases;
• Hypovitaminosis;
• Scurvy.

fir treatment

Fir needles - useful properties

Siberian fir needles contain a number of substances that are beneficial to health, as well as vitamins and biologically significant elements.

Fir needles are a valuable source of ascorbic acid, which is powerful antioxidant, a regulator of carbohydrate metabolism, and plays an important role in the endogenous synthesis of such an important hormone as insulin. In addition, it contains a large amount of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. Together, these two vitamins increase the body's resistance to infectious diseases, and also destroy and remove toxins and poisons from the body. Accordingly, fir needles have these properties.

Thanks to the phytoncides contained in the needles, it has an antibacterial effect, is effective in combating viral infections, helps heal wounds, regulates the secretion of digestive juice in the digestive tract, stimulates the activity of the heart, and disinfects the air. Fumes of needles eliminate bronchospasm in bronchial asthma and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, effectively eliminate migraine.

Fir has an expectorant effect, helps to remove sputum and cleanse the respiratory tract.

Fir needles are successfully used in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, used as an adjuvant therapy for tuberculosis and tumor pathologies. The diuretic and antibacterial properties of fir needles help with kidney pathologies and cystitis. The needles start the process of cleansing all the cells of the body.

fir cones

Siberian fir cones serve as an excellent remedy for rheumatism and other joint pathologies. One of the most popular recipes is a steam foot bath. To do this, the cone is poured with boiling water, and the legs hover over the basin, covering them with some kind of dense cloth.

fir branches

Fir branches, as well as the needles of the plant, are rich in essential oils, and therefore serve as raw materials for the production of fir oil.

Fir preparations

Decoctions and infusions of fir needles

Preparations from fir needles have been used in folk medicine since ancient times. Decoctions and infusions of fir needles are effective for catarrhal pathologies of the respiratory system and its infections:

• Bronchitis;
• Croupous pneumonia;
• Tuberculosis of the lungs, etc.

Ingestion of decoctions and infusions of fir needles is useful for people with pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. Fir activates the process of cleaning blood vessels and capillaries, reduces their fragility, normalizes blood composition, removes toxins from it. Infusion of needles is known as a drink that increases the body's resistance to infections, normalizes the state of the nervous system. The drink strengthens the immune system. Its detoxifying properties of decoctions and infusions of fir needles are also known - it removes heavy and radioactive metals from the body.

fir extract

Properties of fir extract:

• Antioxidant;
• Detoxification;
• Hepatoprotective;
• Antiulcer;
• Anti-inflammatory.

Action of fir extract:

• Promotes the activation of the immune system; increases resistance to viral and bacterial infections;
• It has an adaptogenic effect, increases the body's ability to adapt to adverse factors;
• Prevents the growth of neoplasms, prevents the appearance of metastases; used in the prevention of tumor pathologies;
• Promotes the activation of the process of hematopoiesis and tissue replacement;
• Enhances potency;
• Facilitates alcohol withdrawal.

Camphor

Camphor, which is isolated from fir oil, is used as a substance that excites the central nervous system and stimulates the work of the heart.

Fir oil

Properties of fir essential oil

Fir needle oil has the following beneficial properties:

• Antibacterial;
• General strengthening;
• Tonic;
• Exciting;
• expectorant;
• Wound healing;
• Anti-inflammatory.

Fir oil - indications for use

Fir oil has a pronounced antibacterial effect, and therefore it is used in the treatment of infectious and catarrhal pathologies, including:

• Pneumonia;
• Croupous pneumonia;
• Bronchitis;
• Inflammation of the larynx;
• Tracheitis;
• Acute tonsillitis;
• Inflammation in the ear.

In addition to catarrhal pathologies, fir oil helps to cure a number of diseases of various origins:

• Psoriasis;
• Skin fungus;
• Tuberculosis;
• Unstable pressure;
• Collapse;
• Infectious diseases.

Fir oil also increases vitality in case of overwork, bad mood, irritability, stress or neurosis.

Fir oil is an effective remedy for bruises and sprains, myositis and muscle pain, rheumatism, arthrosis, arthritis, sciatica and osteochondrosis.

It should be borne in mind that fir oil is an aphrodisiac.

Allergy to fir oil

There is a risk of developing an allergy to fir oil, although this is rare. Among the allergic reactions are itching, pink-red spots or swelling, which disappear within 3 days. However, such situations can be prevented by knowing if there is a tendency to allergic reactions to fir. To do this, drop 10-15 drops of fir oil on the front side of the leg or arm, and rub it into the skin properly. If spots appear the next morning or the next day, this indicates an allergy. Otherwise, there is no allergy.

Contraindications to the use of fir and its preparations

It is not recommended to use fir preparations for allergies to them. It is forbidden to use fir preparations with individual intolerance to fir. People with heart palpitations should carefully use fir oil in the treatment of certain diseases.

Penetrating into the blood, fir oil is present in it for several days. However, it has the ability to accumulate in the body. Therefore, fir oil can be consumed internally only in small doses - no more than 5-10 drops per day, depending on tolerance. External use of fir oil is a maximum of 10 g per day.

Fir and its preparations are contraindicated in convulsions and a tendency to such, for example, in epilepsy.

Do not forget that fir oil has a laxative effect.

Fir oil is contraindicated in the presence of peptic ulcer.

You can not drink alcohol, combining it with the treatment with fir oil. Any alcohol-containing drinks, including beer, during therapy and two more days after stopping the intake of fir oil are contraindicated. If you take alcohol directly after fir oil, unpleasant symptoms may occur, and the medicinal effect of the drug will disappear.

Attention! Fir oil is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as small children!

What is the difference between a fir tree and a fir tree?

Both spruce and fir have wide range applications in folk and official medicine. There are main differences between spruce and fir:

• Fir has advantages when using wood for decorative purposes. It is always more symmetrical, there are no resin passages in it, and the needles fall off much later than that of a Christmas tree.
• Spruce is a more unpretentious plant, it grows faster than fir. Ornamental cultivation of spruce requires less financial resources and labor.
• Fir needles - not prickly, soft. Fir needles are wider and larger than spruce needles. On spruce, the cones are directed downwards, and on fir, on the contrary, upwards.
• Spruce wood is stronger than fir wood. Therefore, the first is more often used in the manufacture of furniture.

The use of fir in baths and saunas

Fir brooms for a bath are not as common as ordinary ones (birch or oak). Such brooms are more often used by connoisseurs of thrills. However, fir brooms are very popular in Siberia and the Far East.

Many are puzzled by the fact that fir has rather sharp needles. However, if you properly prepare the needles, it will practically not prick. The broom should be properly steamed in boiling water, and before the procedure itself, it is recommended to steam and warm up the skin, making it soft and elastic. Then the injections of softened needles will not be felt.

Procedures with fir needle brooms are used as a massage, due to which blood flow increases and heavy sweating begins. A bath with a fir broom is useful for the respiratory and nervous systems, the heart and blood vessels, as well as for strengthening the immune system. It is also recommended for articular pathologies, diseases of the spinal column, colds. Bath procedures with fir needles are recommended for skin diseases, as they soothe exacerbations, accelerate wound healing and perfectly cleanse the skin. They are also recommended for people suffering from gout and neuralgic pathologies. Bath procedures with a fir broom help eliminate muscle spasms and muscle pain.

Due to the antiseptic and bactericidal properties of fir needles, bath procedures with fir brooms are very useful for colds and flu, coughs and runny nose. Healthy people are advised to combine a bath with a fir broom with hardening - this will increase the body's defenses and improve health.

Concerning psychological aspect, then a bath with a fir broom has an exceptionally beneficial effect. It will help eliminate fatigue, relieve stress, emotional experiences, help to relax, improve mood.

If you put a few drops of fir oil on a broom, this will only make the procedure even more useful.

Fir oil for hair

Popular masks with fir oil

Adding fir oil to shampoo
Pour the amount of shampoo that you need to wash your hair into a cap or beaker, and add 2-3 drops of fir oil to it. Fir oil will normalize the sebaceous glands and eliminate oily hair. Adding fir oil to shampoo is also effective in treating dandruff, but it must be used regularly - every 3-4 days, in total 10-15 procedures.

Attention! Fir oil for washing hair should be used sparingly and in the recommended dosages, otherwise you can achieve the opposite result and provoke skin irritation.

Aroma combing with fir oil
Many do not believe in the effectiveness of aroma combing, since it does not involve direct contact of fir oil with hair roots. At the same time, not everyone likes the smell of fir oil.

But if the smell of fir oil is pleasant to you, aroma combing with it will help prevent the development of not only dandruff, but also many fungal pathologies. One aroma-combing a week will serve as an excellent prevention.

For the aroma combing procedure, a natural bristle comb is needed. 3-4 drops of fir oil are dripped onto the comb, and the hair is gently combed until the oil disappears.

Massage mask for dandruff and hair growth
A pure essential composition of fir oil is used. It is most effective when mixed with other unrefined vegetable oil. This recipe uses burdock oil.

Two tablespoons of burdock oil are warmed up a little, 4-5 drops of fir essential oil are dripped into it, and stirred properly so that fir oil dissolves without residue in burdock oil. This may take several minutes.

Fingertips are dipped into the resulting mixture, and the scalp is massaged in tech. 10-15 min. After that, the head should be washed with shampoo, and rinsed under the shower.

This method is also effective for restoring dry and damaged hair.

Mask for strengthening hair
Ingredients:

• Honey - 1 tbsp;
• Fir oil - 2-3 drops;
• Freshly squeezed onion juice 45 tbsp.

The ingredients are thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained. The finished mixture is rubbed with fingertips into the skin of the scalp.

After applying the entire composition to the scalp, it is kept for 30-40 minutes, before that, covering the head with plastic wrap. Such a mask will restore and strengthen the hair roots, improve their nutrition and activate their growth, and prevent alopecia.

Nourishing mask
In a cup or glass, mix chicken yolk, 3 tablespoons of rum and two drops of fir oil. All these components are thoroughly mixed until a uniform composition is obtained. Fir oil is dripped last.

The resulting mixture is rubbed into the scalp. After applying the mask, it is left for 20-30 minutes, and then washed off (it is not recommended to use hot water).

Masks for oily hair with fir oil

mask 1
Dry and chop the burdock root and marigold inflorescences. Mix two tablespoons of each ingredient, and one tablespoon of oak bark. Pour all 100 ml of boiling water. Put on fire, and heat in a water bath for half an hour, then cool, drip 2 drops of fir oil, mix properly. Apply the composition to the hair, and leave for 20-30 minutes, then rinse in the shower.

Mask 2
Brew one tablespoon of quince seeds in 200 ml of water at 80-85 degrees. Then put on fire, and heat in a water bath until boiling. Filter the composition and allow to cool slightly. Then add 2-3 drops of fir essential oil and mix well. You will get a jelly-like consistency. In a warm form, apply to the hair roots and massage them. After 50 min. rinse off in the shower. The mask should be done every day for 6-7 days.

mask 3
Dry the linden flowers and grind. Boil eight tablespoons of linden flowers in 200 ml of boiling water, put on fire and heat in a water bath for no more than three minutes. Remove from heat, let cool and filter.

Pour 1 tbsp into the broth. freshly squeezed lemon juice, 50 ml of eucalyptus tincture, one or two drops of fir essential oil. Shake everything well and apply to the hair from the horses to the tips. The head should be covered with polyethylene and tied with a scarf. Half an hour after applying the composition to the hair, remove polyethylene film and wash your hair with shampoo. The composition is applied to the hair 1-2 times a week. Course - 4-5 weeks.

mask 4
Dry coltsfoot leaves and marigold flowers and grind into powder. Take three tablespoons of each ingredient, pour 100 ml of water at 80 - 90 degrees, put on fire and heat in a water bath for a while. 2-3 min. Allow to cool, filter, drop 1-2 drops of fir essential oil into the liquid, add a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and a tablespoon of eucalyptus tincture. Apply the mask on the hair for half an hour. Apply the mask to the hair every 3-4 days for 4-5 weeks.

mask 5
Grind one onion with a meat grinder. Squeeze the juice from the resulting slurry through cheesecloth. Mix two tablespoons of castor bean oil with the same volume of juice squeezed from the onion, drop one or two drops of fir essential oil, and mix everything well until smooth. Apply the composition to the hair from roots to ends. Cover the head with polyethylene and a towel. After 40 min. rinse off in the shower.

mask 6
Finely chop parsley, take three tablespoons of parsley and pour 1 tbsp. castor oil. Add 1 tsp. forty-degree vodka, drop one or two drops of fir essential oil, and mix everything properly. Take the resulting composition with your fingertips and massage the hair roots until everything is used up. Then cover the head with polyethylene, and tie with a scarf. After half an hour, wash your hair with shampoo under running water. Apply the mask to the hair every 3-4 days. The course is 4-5 weeks.

Mask 7
Mix one or two drops of fir essential oil with five drops of peach oil. In 200 ml cow's milk dissolve a tablespoon of rock salt, and then pour the resulting mixture of oils into it, and mix everything properly until completely dissolved. Wet your hair first. Apply the mask while massaging the hair roots. Rinse under running water after 15 minutes. Apply the mask every 3-4 days.

Mask 8
Mix two chicken yolks with 2 tablespoons of natural honey, drop one or two drops of fir essential oil into the mixture, mix well. Take the composition with your fingertips and massage the hair roots with it. When the entire composition is used up, it is necessary to cover the hair with polyethylene, and bandage it with a scarf. After 1 - 2 hours, the mask can be washed off under running water. This mask can be done every 3-4 days.

Mask 9
Three tablespoons mustard powder dilute with some volume of warm clean waterto get a mass of pasty consistency. Drop one or two drops of fir essential oil into it, and mix well. Hair should be wetted before the procedure. Apply the composition to the hair, from roots to ends, and hold for a maximum of 10 minutes. It is recommended to wash off the composition with acidified water at room temperature, or with some kind of infusion. This mask is done every 6-7 days.

Coniferous fir is an ideal plant for shady areas. They are so undemanding to the presence of light that they can successfully develop even in the most shaded conditions, but only in the presence of soils with a high degree of fertility and moderate moisture. One of the distinguishing features of this plant from other conifers is that cylindrical fir cones are located strictly upwards on the branches.

fir tree ( Abies) belongs to the Pine family (Pinaceae). The genus unites about 40 species distributed in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and only a few of them penetrate the mountain systems to Mexico and Guatemala.

On this page you can get acquainted with the photo and description of fir trees of different types and varieties, as well as learn how to grow fir in the backyard.

What fir looks like: photo and description of an evergreen tree

Fir trees are large evergreen trees, reaching a height of 60-100 m with a trunk thickness of up to 2 m. The trunk is straight, slowly clearing of branches that persist for many years, which is why even in adult plants they are located near the ground itself. The crown of a fir looks like a cone, it is formed by branches collected in whorls and arranged in tiers.

The bark of most species is thin, smooth, with small cracks, usually located at an angle to each other.

The needles are needle-shaped, collected in spiral rows on a large developed base, which leaves a round flat trace after it falls. The needles of vegetative shoots are soft, flattened, slightly grooved above, keeled below, with two light stomatal stripes. Needles of fruiting shoots are tetrahedral with whitish stripes and stomata on all sides.

See what the firs look like in these photos:

All "flowers" are located in the upper part of the crown. Males develop from apical buds and carry pollen, females are located in the upper part of the shoots and form cones after pollination. Cones solitary erect, from ovate-oblong to cylindrical. After maturation, the cones disintegrate down to the stem. Seeds - small winged "nuts".

Types and varieties of fir: photo and botanical description

Abies alba- White fir.

Forms pure and mixed with deciduous forests. It grows in the mountains of Central and Southern Europe.

This is a slender tree 30-50 m high with a trunk straight as a candle. The branches are collected in horizontal whorls. The bark is gray, smooth, scaly on older trees. The needles are needle-shaped, shiny, wrinkled, serrated or two-headed at the ends. On the branches it is located comb-shaped and collected in rows. The needles are 2-3 cm long, dark green above with a bluish tint, below - with two distinct white stripes, which is why this species was called "white". Cones erect, 10-14 cm long. Young cones are greenish, mature - brownish.

The extreme harsh winters possible freezing of young plants at the level of snow cover. In adult specimens, the top growths of the previous year may freeze slightly.

It has a number of rather spectacular varietal forms. When describing a fir tree of this species, it is worth noting that, unfortunately, these plants are of little use for growing in the gardens of the North-West and Central Russia because of their poor frost resistance. In fairness, it should be noted that individual mini-cultivars can safely winter under snow cover.

Abies amabilis- The fir is pretty.

A very beautiful tree 75-80 m high, growing in the mountain forests of North America - from British Columbia to Oregon.

The crown is flat cone-shaped. The branches are arranged in clearly separated horizontal tiers, collected in whorls and starting from the ground itself. The bark is thin, gray to white.

Needles 20-30 mm long and 2 mm wide, dark green, wrinkled, with two wide white stripes below, with shortened tips.

As you can see in the photo, the needles of this type of fir tree grow in rows:

Cones erect, ovate-pin-shaped, 10-14 cm long.

In severe winters, young plants may freeze at the level of the snow cover. In adult plants, in extremely severe winters, top growths of the previous year suffer.

This type of fir has many varieties with a compact crown shape, including spherical and flattened.

Until now, this type of fir is a rather rare guest in our gardens. At the moment, only one variety that has been tested in them for several years can be recommended - this is A. amabilis Spreading Star.

Recommended variety of pretty fir - A. amabilis Spreading Star. Dwarf variety of pretty fir. The shape is rounded flattened. The needles are large, soft, dark green, silvery. Annual increments within 10 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies balsamea - Balsam fir. Forms giant forests and occupies vast areas in North America. It is of exceptional value not only due to wood, but also resin.

A tree 15-20 m high. The crown is pin-shaped, tapering upwards. Just like all firs, the branches are collected in whorls and arranged in tiers, but this is not too noticeable due to the strong branching.

Look at the photo - the bark of this type of fir is ash-gray with numerous resinous influxes, often scaly:

Young branches are yellow-gray, partially overgrown. The needles are dark green with two white stripes below, small and thin. When rubbed, they emit a sharp balsamic smell. Cones erect, small, oblong, 5-7 cm long, purple-purple before maturation.

When planting in open areas in extremely severe winters, partial freezing of young specimens at the level of snow cover is possible. Mature plants are resistant to frost.

It has many varietal varieties with a dense spherical crown shape and shortened needles.

Abies balsamea Eugene Gold.

Srednerosly narrow-columnar variety of balsam fir. The needles are dense, soft, golden, light green at the base of the branches. Annual growths are 15-20 cm. This variety of balsam fir is completely frost-resistant.

Abies balsamea Jennie(synonym WB 3).

Abies balsamea Renswoude.

Mini variety of balsam fir. The shape is spherical. The needles are short, soft, green. The kidneys are pronounced. Annual increments 3-5 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor- One color fir.

A slender and extremely beautiful tree 2.5-40 m high, growing in the tori of Colorado.

The crown of this fir is clearly pyramidal, since the lower tiers of branches are very wide, and the upper ones are short. The branches are collected in horizontal whorls, located at a considerable distance from each other, which somewhat exposes the trunk and further emphasizes the perfect shape of the crown. The bark is light grey, smooth in young but rough in older plants. The needles are bluish-green, soft, flat, sometimes crescent-shaped, 40-60 mm long. This is the only fir with blue needles. Cones are cylindrical, 7-12 cm long, greenish or slightly reddish before maturity. The degree of drought resistance is higher than that of most species. It has a number of spectacular varieties with white-gray and blue needles.

Сoncolor Birthday Broom.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Dense, rounded flattened shape. The needles are long, silver-blue. Annual increments are about 3 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Blue Saphir.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Dense, cushion shape. The needles are short, twisted, blue-blue. Annual increments within 3-4 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies concolor Bryce Canyon.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Very dense, cushion-shaped.

Pay attention to the photo - the needles of this variety of fir are of a single-color blue-green color, have the shape of a month:

Annual increments within 3-4 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies concolor Cimaron.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Very dense, round-oval shape. The needles are grey-blue. Annual increments within 3-5 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies concolor Fagerhult.

Srednerosly grade of a fir of one-color. Weeping form. The needles are long, blue. Annual increments within 20 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Kresice.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Very dense, round-oval shape. The needles are grey-blue. Annual increments within 3 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Kucera.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Very dense, round shape. The needles are short, twisted, gray-blue. Annual increments within 3 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Nechiba.

Mini-grade fir one-color. This variety of fir has a very dense, rounded shape. The needles are short, gray-blue. Annual increments within 3 cm. Fully frost-resistant,

Abies concolor Od Maleho.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Dense, rounded flattened shape. The needles are straight, gray-green-blue. Annual growth within 5 cm, Fully hardy,

Abies concolor Olesna.

Dwarf variety of one-color fir. Irregular growth of branches. The needles are short, blue-green. Annual increments within 8-10 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Osek-Topinka.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Dense, rounded flattened shape.

As you can see in the photo, the needles of this single-color fir variety are straight, gray-blue:

Annual increments within 5 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Piedra.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Dense, rounded flattened shape. Needles are straight, gray-blue. Annual increments within 4-5 cm, Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Piggelmee.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Dense, rounded flattened shape. Needles are straight, gray-blue. Annual increments within 3-5 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies concolor Shawns Cone.

Dwarf forms. A modern variety of single fir. The exact size of annual increments and final sizes have not yet been established. The needles are long, deep blue, frost-resistant.

Abies concolor Winter Gold.

Srednerosly grade of a fir of one-color. Narrow pyramidal shape. The branches have a vertical direction of growth, then fall. Needles are long, curved. Light green in summer, golden in winter. Growths within 30 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Zabela.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Round shape. The needles are short, straight, gray-blue. Increments 3-4 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Blue Cloac.

Pyramidal variety of single-colored fir. There are also specimens that can be grown as prostratic forms. The needles are long, deep blue, the branches of the pyramidal forms have a vertical direction of growth, then fall. Annual increments within 15-20 cm, Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Compacta

Dwarf variety of one-color fir. Pyramidal shape. The needles are long, silver-blue. Annual increments within 10 cm, Fully hardy.

Abies concolor Hidden Lakes.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Rounded flattened shape. The needles are long, sickle-shaped, gray-blue. Annual increments 5-7 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies concolor Igel.

Mini-grade fir one-color. Very dense, round shape. The needles are short, blue-blue color. Annual increments within 3-4 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies concolor Violacea.

Full grown variety. Pyramidal form of single-colored fir. The needles are long, curved on the back of the branches, deep blue. Annual increments of 30-50 cm, increase with age. Fully cold hardy.

Abies concolor La Veta.

Dwarf variety of one-color fir. Dense, rounded shape. The needles are long, straight, blue. Annual increments within 5-8 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies concolor Saxana.

Dwarf form. A modern variety of single-colored fir. The exact size of annual increments and final sizes have not yet been established. The needles are long, deep blue, hardy.

Below you can find photos, names and descriptions of other varieties of firs.

Other varieties of fir: photo, name and description

Abies korean- Korean fir.

A slender tree about 15-20 m high is a forest-forming species of Korea.

The crown of this variety of fir is clearly pyramidal, formed by flexible, but dense, arranged tiers and whorled branches. The bark of young trees is soft and smooth, while that of older trees is rough. The needles are glossy, dark green above and almost white below, short (10-30 mm long). Very densely packed in rows. On fruiting shoots, the needles are turned upside down, which makes the tops appear white. Cones are erect, cylindrical, 4-7 cm long. Mature cones are violet-purple.

Both adults and young plants are completely hardy.

It has many original varieties, most of which have inverted white needles.

Abies korean Adelboden.

Mini variety of Korean fir. Densely branched pyramidal shape. The needles are dense, short, dark green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Abies korean Aurea.

Large-sized golden variety of Korean fir. Dense, pyramidal shape. The needles are light green-golden. Annual increments 30-40 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies koreana Blauer Pfiff

Dwarf variety of Korean fir. Pyramidal shape. The needles are short, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual increments within 15 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies korean Blue Emperor.

A very effective variety of Korean fir. The most common form is pyramidal, less often cushion-shaped. The needles are short, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual increments within 8-10 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies korean Bonsai Blue.

Dwarf variety. Pyramidal shape. The needles are short, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual increments within 10 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies korean Brillant.

Mini grade. Rounded flattened shape. The needles are short, green above, bluish below. Annual increments within 3-5 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies korean Compacta.

Dwarf variety. Pyramidal shape, short needles, blue-green above, bluish-white below. Annual increments within 10-12 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies Koreana Grubele(synonyms - Doni Tajuso, Kristalkugel, Arbor's Hexe).

Mini grade. Densely branched, rounded flattened form. The needles are dense, short, dark green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 3-4 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Abies koreana Kohout's Icebreaker(synonyms - Ice Breaker, Silberlocke W.B.).

Micro-variety of Korean fir. The shape is rounded, dome-shaped, densely branched. The needles are short, strongly curved, white-silver. Annual increments within 3-4 cm, Fully hardy. Garden decoration.

Abies koreana Kohout's Nehe

Mini variety of Korean fir. Very dense, spherical shape. The branches are short, the needles are small, short, dark green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 3-4 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies korean Oberon

Dwarf variety of Korean fir. The most common form is pyramidal, less often cushion-shaped. The needles are hard, short, curved, strongly pressed to the branches, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 5-8 cm, Fully hardy.

Abies Koreana Pancake

Mini grade. Cushion-shaped, strongly branched, dense form. The needles are hard, short, curved, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 3-5 cm, Fully hardy.

Abies korean Pinocchio

Mini grade, spherical shape. The branches are short, the needles are small, short, dark green above, silvery below. The needles are hard, short, curved, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 3-5 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies korean Schneestern

A rare variety of Korean fir. Narrow-pyramidal, profusely branching form. The needles are hard, short, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 3-5 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies Korean Silver Show.

Dwarf variety of Korean fir. Pyramidal shape. The branches have a vertical direction of growth. The needles are short, strongly curved, white-silver. Annual increments within 12-15 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies korean Silberlocke.

Srednerosly variety of Korean fir. Pyramidal shape. The branches have a vertical direction of growth. The needles are short, strongly curved, white-silver. Annual increments within 20-25 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies korean Taiga.

Mini variety of Korean fir. Cushion-shaped, tier-forming, rather dense form. The needles are hard, short, blue-green above, silvery below. Annual increments within 3-5 cm, Fully hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa- Subalpine fir.

Grows in North America: in forests from Alaska to Oregon and in the highlands of Utah and New Mexico. This fir is one of the most beautiful and elegant. Reaching a height of 30 m, it retains a dense narrow pyramidal crown until old age.

Look at the photo - the branches of this variety of fir are located in dense tiers, and the branches are densely branched:

Young bark is smooth, silver-gray. The needles are pale greenish-gray, 25-40 mm long, brush-like, directed upwards and unevenly collected in rows. Cones are numerous, close to each other, erect, oblong, 6-10 cm long, dark purple at a young age.

In extremely severe winters, partial freezing of young plants at the level of snow cover is possible, but mature trees are resistant to frost.

It has many varietal forms with green, gray and blue needles. The shape of the crowns of cultivars is diverse - from classically pyramidal to spherical.

Abies lasiocarpa Alpine Beauty.

Micro-grade subalpine fir. Round shape. The needles are soft, green-blue. Annual increments are 2-3 cm. When describing this variety of fir, it is worth noting its complete frost resistance.

Abies lasiocarpa Blue Cone.

Dwarf pyramidal variety of subalpine fir. The needles are soft, rich green-blue in color, with a silvery sheen. Annual increments within 20-25 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa compacta.

Dwarf variety of subalpine fir. Under favorable growing conditions, annual growths of 20-25 cm are possible and the cultivar can reach a medium size. Dense, pyramidal shape. The needles are soft, rich silver-blue. Fully cold hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa Cvicov.

Mini-grade subalpine fir. Pillow shape. The needles are short, silver-blue. Annual increments 3-4 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa Kenwich Blue.

Srednerosly variety of subalpine fir. The needles are soft, saturated blue. It is considered one of the bluest among the subalpine firs. Annual increments within 30 cm, Fully hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa Kyles Alpine.

Micro-grade subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are soft, silver-blue. Annual increments 2-3 cm. Completely hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa Prickly Pete

Mini-grade subalpine fir. Pillow-shaped, tiered shape. The needles are silver-blue, somewhat elongated, vertically directed. Annual increments 3-5 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa Toenisvorst.

Mini-grade subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are short, bluish-green-blue. Annual increments 3-4 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa Utah.

Mini-grade subalpine fir. Funnel-shaped, slightly flattened shape. The needles are short, bluish-green. Annual increments 3-4 cm. Fully hardy.

Abies lasiocarpa Logan Pass (synonymous with Glacier).

Micro-grade subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are soft, green-blue. Annual increments 2-3 cm. Fully frost-resistant

Abies lasiocarpa Lopalpun.

Micro-grade subalpine fir. Spherical shape. The needles are soft, green-blue. Annual increments 1-2 cm. Fully hardy. It is considered a subalpine fir, which has one of the smallest annual growth.

Abies nordmanniana- Nordmann fir, or Caucasian.

One of the forest-forming species of the Caucasus. A noble, long-lived, slender tree 40-50 m high. Under favorable conditions (rich soils and high air humidity), it reaches a height of 80 m. The branches are whorled and evenly arranged, descending almost to the ground, which is why the crown acquires a clear conical shape. The bark is black grey. The needles are dense, brush-like, dark green, 20-30 mm long and 2-2.5 mm wide, not collected in rows and hanging down. Cones erect, greenish, resinous when young.

In nature, Nordmann fir is quite frost-resistant and in the mountains it reaches the border of forest distribution, approaching the alpine zone. It does not freeze in the parks of Western Europe and North America. In Northern Europe, in severe winters, young plants may freeze at the level of snow cover, and in extremely severe winters, top growths of the previous year may freeze slightly in adult trees. For this reason, cultivars of this type of fir in the gardens of central Russia have not received wide distribution.

There are sporadic attempts to grow the very decorative variety Golden Spreader.

Abies nordmanniana Golden Spreader.

Dwarf. Pyramidal variety of Nordmann fir. Golden form. The needles are soft. When planted in partial shade light green-golden, and in the sun -bright golden color. Annual increments within 10-15 cm. Conditionally hardy.

Abies procera- Noble fir.

The main habitat of this fir is the western regions of North America. These tall narrow-conical trees, up to 70 m high, grow at an altitude of up to 1500 m above sea level. Most of the branches have a vertical direction of growth. Branches of the lower tier - fall. The bark is greyish, with deep fissures and broad outgrowths. The needles are green-blue, slightly twisted. Cylindrical purple cones up to 20 cm. When ripe, they turn brown. Fairly cold hardy.

In recent years, cultivars of this species have increasingly been grown in Russian gardens.

Abies procera La Graciosa.

Dwarf, pyramidal variety of noble fir. Often in the first years it has a cushion-like, creeping shape. Subsequently, it puts forward the leading shoot in the vertical direction. The needles are soft, gray-green. Annual growths within 15 cm. Fairly frost-resistant, but full conclusions about resistance to severe frosts in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia can be made only after longer periods of its cultivation.

Abies procera Rat Tail.

Dwarf, pyramidal variety of noble fir. At the age of 20 years and older, it can reach medium size. Branches are straight and narrow. The needles are short, gray-green. Annual growths from 15 to 30 cm, Fairly hardy, but full conclusions about resistance to severe frosts in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia can be made only after longer periods of its cultivation,

Abies procera Sherwoodii(synonyms - Aurea, Mount Hood)

Large-sized golden variety of noble fir. Irregular pyramidal shape. The branches are somewhat vertically directed, falling at the ends. The needles are soft, slightly curved, light green-golden. At the age of 20 years, annual growths are more than 30 cm. It is quite frost-resistant, but it will be possible to draw full conclusions about its resistance to severe frosts in the gardens of the northern temperate zone of Russia only after longer growing periods.

Abies sibirica- Siberian fir.

This classic fir is one of the main forest-forming species in the northern regions of Russia. Its range is huge - from the north-east of Russia to China. A slender tree with a straight trunk up to 30 m high.

The crown is columnar-pyramidal, formed by horizontal, widely spaced branches collected in whorls. The bark is smooth, grey. The needles are light green, tender, soft, up to 3 cm long.

Cones are cylindrical, 5-8 cm long, bluish before maturity.

Both adults and young plants are completely hardy.

It has a number of garden forms with a more dense and compact crown shape. In recent years, they began to appear in Russian gardens.

Abies veitchii- Vicha fir.

The habitat is subalpine forests at an altitude of up to 2500 m, on the Japanese islands of Honshu and Shikoku.

Tall tree up to 25-30 m with a narrow conical crown. The bark is smooth, grey. The branches are short, horizontally directed. The needles are flat, soft, up to 2.5 cm long.

Dark green above, with 2 white stripes below. Cones are cylindrical, 5-6 cm long, bluish at a young age, later turning brown, turning brown.

Abies veitchii Den Langhen.

Abies veitchii Rako.

Mini-grade Vicha fir. Round shape. The needles are soft, yellow-green with white stripes. Annual increments within 3-5 cm. Completely hardy.

How to care for fir: planting and agricultural care in the open field

Fir trees are exceptionally shade-tolerant plants. They prefer fertile loamy, slightly acidic soils, but they also develop quite successfully on loose sandy loamy soils. Dwarf firs should not be grown in excessively rich soils, as they may lose their typical crown shape.

Adult specimens do not need fertilizer, because they have a powerful branched root system. Young firs, when cared for during cultivation, can be fed in the spring after the snow melts with complex or combined mineral fertilizer on wet ground.

Planting firs is carried out in early spring before the buds begin to bloom, or in autumn. It is undesirable to deepen the root collar. Young plants tolerate transplanting easily. Plants with actively growing shoots take root poorly. Large specimens can be transplanted only after preliminary preparation of the root ball. After planting, when caring for firs, trees need abundant watering, and during spring transplantation, spraying until rooting.

Fir trees need to create growing conditions with a sufficient level of humidity, but they do not tolerate stagnant groundwater. Mature, well developed plants are drought tolerant.

When planting and caring for fir trees in the open field, keep in mind that all types are cold-tolerant, but their frost resistance is different. Most species are not able to withstand a frosty winter for a long time. Mature trees are more resistant than young ones. Young summer growths often suffer from late frosts.

Observing the correct agrotechnics for growing firs, when caring for trees, shelter from frost is required only for young specimens in snowless winters. The best shelter is light air-dry insulation with coniferous spruce branches. Multi-stemmed varietal fir trees need to be pulled together slightly - this will protect them from breaking with heavy snow and losing their shape.

In the spring, for uniform awakening of plants, it is recommended to water them abundantly. This is especially important after frosty winters that freeze the soil. In many species, at the end of winter - at the beginning of spring, the apical shoots of the previous year suffer. This can be avoided by covering the top shoots with gauze.

The following describes how you can grow fir from seeds.

How can fir be grown from seeds?

Only freshly harvested seeds are suitable. If you store them in an airtight container at a temperature of 0 ... + 5ᵒ C, then germination lasts more than 15 years, but under normal conditions it is lost after a year. Freshly fallen seeds from the cones are capable of immediate germination. Seeds with hardened integuments have a dormant embryo.

There are several ways to germinate seeds.

The simplest is winter sowing in a ridge to a depth of 1.5-2 cm with mulching with peat to a height of 1 cm. In the spring, after germination, the plants are planted by pinching the root, or left in place until autumn or next spring.

Snowing. Seeds are sown in boxes in autumn or winter and taken out under the snow until spring. After the emergence of seedlings, the plants are planted in a ridge or left in boxes until autumn.

cold stratification. At the end of winter, the seeds are mixed with coarse, clean, slightly damp sand, sawdust or sphagnum moss, placed in plastic bags and stored in a refrigerator or basement at a temperature of + 3 ... + 5 ° C for 1-2 months, or sown in boxes or bowls, filled with rotted leafy soil, peat and coarse sifted sand in a ratio of 3:1:1. After sowing, the seeds are stored under the same conditions for 1-3 months.

After passing through the stratification, the seeds stored in bags are washed and sown in boxes or bowls. Crops are exposed to light at a temperature of + 18 ... + 23 ° C for germination. Seedlings require protection from direct sun rays and moderate watering. Excessively dense shoots dive. When heat comes, the seedlings are taken out into the garden, where, after hardening, they are planted in a ridge.

Varietal varieties during seed propagation weakly repeat the characteristic features, and it is very difficult to determine them in the first year. For propagation of varietal forms, vegetative propagation is used.

The last section of the article is devoted to how to propagate fir cuttings.

How to propagate fir: methods of propagation by layering and cuttings

With the vegetative method of reproduction of firs, horizontal layers do not guarantee the preservation of the typical crown shape; in the vast majority of cases, crooked or creeping plants grow from rooted branches. Fir trees take root with this method for 1-2 years.

Relatively well rooted cuttings only from young varietal plants. Even better form the roots of cuttings taken from plants with a compact densely branched crown. Cuttings from "wild" species, especially from old specimens, root very poorly.

For propagation of firs by cuttings, the substrate must be loose, clean and breathable. The basis is always coarse washed sand, to which perlite, high-moor sour peat or finely chopped coniferous bark are added. Place the cuttings in the substrate without turning the branches upside down.

cuttings carried out in the spring before or at the very beginning of the awakening of the kidneys or in the summer after the end of the first wave of growth, when the young growths harden. However, in the latter case, the cuttings do not have time to form roots and hibernate only with influxes of callus, risking freezing.

Cuttings take root at a temperature of + 20 ... + 23ᵒ C. During spring cuttings, before bud break, it is necessary to maintain a lower temperature - + 15 ... + 18 ° C and only then increase it to + 20 ... + 23 ° C. It is not recommended to raise the temperature above +25 °C. To avoid overheating, boxes with cuttings should be slightly shaded from direct sunlight.

The combination of moderate substrate moisture and high air humidity is the key to success.

In the spring, shoots of last year's growth are taken for rooting, in summer - hardened shoots of the current year. In columnar and narrow-pyramidal forms, only vertical, but not the most powerful shoots are cut, in creeping varieties - everything except vertical ones; from plants with a free, oval or spherical crown, you can take any cuttings.

There are frequent cases when the cuttings do not form roots for 2 years, while having a thickening at the cut site - the wound tissue of the callus. In this case, they can overwinter under air-dry shelter. Well-rooted plants hibernate without shelter. Cuttings rooted not in the ground, but in boxes, are dug into the ground along with the boxes and covered or stored in bright, cold greenhouses or rooms until spring.