Abies nordmanniana
You can find your way to the Glasshouse by Christmas tree this year. We have around 70 Christmas trees of Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann fir) each from a different branch of the Surrey Women’s Institute, adorned with handmade natural and recycled decorations. Look out for established Nordmann firs on the Rock Bank, including the yellow cultivar ‘Golden Spreader’. Plus a 16 year old specimen by the path in the Pinetum, which shows how large they can grow!
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Caucasian fir, Nordmann fir, Christmas tree
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Height & spread
- 40m (130ft) x 6m (20ft)
- Form
- Columnar tree with tiered branches
- Soil
- Fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral to slightly acid soil
- Aspect
- Full sun with some shelter from cold winds
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
Abies
This is a genus of about 50 species of evergreen conifer from Europe, northern Africa, Asia and North America dominating northern and mountainous regions.
The whorled branches bear linear, flattened, sometimes glossy, mid to dark green leaves often with two longitudinal silver bands beneath.
The female cones are often purplish blue, erect, with occasionally protruding bracts, and are produced on the upper branches in late spring and early summer. After ripening in autumn they break up to release the seeds, leaving the central stalk on the shoot.
Male cones are pendent, green when young, usually purple, purplish blue or brown when mature, and are borne throughout the crown.
Abies nordmanniana
This is a columnar tree with tiered branches. It has densely arranged, glossy, rich green leaves, dull white beneath, 2-3 cm (3/4-1.25in) long, that point forwards and overlap above on the shoot. Ovoid-cylindrical greenish brown cones, to 15cm long, have protruding bracts. This species is native to north Turkey.
It will provide good shelter and screening and also make a fine specimen tree especially at this time of year.
Abies nordmanniana ‘Golden Spreader’ is a slow growing, usually dwarf tree, with spreading branches and golden yellow leaves, pale yellowish white underneath. 1m (3ft) x 1.5m (5ft), occasionally forms a small tree.
In recent years Abies nordmanniana AGM has become a leading tree in the popularity stakes at Christmas. It generally has a uniform, triangular, bushy shape and retains its needles well.
Cultivation
Plant in well-drained sites in early or mid- autumn; on cold wet sites defer planting until early or mid-spring. Use small trees, 60cm/24in. or less; bigger specimens will check for years, producing bunched branch-whorls.
Double leaders must be singled and grafted plants encouraged to develop an erect leader if they lack one, but the only other pruning is cleaning suppressed branches from the lowermost 2m/6.5ft in two or three stages.
Keep a 1m/39in radius of the base weed free and mulched.
Prone to adelgids and honey fungus
Propagation
Sow seed in containers as soon as ripe or in late winter; stratify for 21 days to aid germination.
Graft cultivars in winter.
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Abies nordmanniana an Award of Garden Merit and described it as follows:
"Evergreen conifer making a large tree with narrow conical or columnar crown, with dense, glossy dark green foliage on down-swept branches. Young cones green or reddish, becoming brown."