Abies alba, the common garden spruce

View of the adult leaves of Abies alba

The common fir, whose scientific name is Abies albais a slow-growing conifer that has a very high ornamental value. It is so decorative that you might well think that it is an artificial plant, but let us be fooled: it is alive and can also give a lot of life to our garden.

Getting a healthy specimen is very simple, although to have it perfect you have to know all its secrets. And we are going to take care of that right now .

Origin and characteristics of Abies alba

Specimen of Abies alba in a garden

The Abies albaIt is a fir that receives several common names, which are: fir, white fir, common fir, Scottish fir, yew-leaved fir, noble fir, silver fir, combed fir, sapino, spruce, common spruce, or fir. It is an evergreen conifer native to the mountains of Europe. In Spain it is found in the north of the peninsula, especially in the Pyrenees. It has a pyramidal shape and a height between 20 and 50 meters.. Its needles (leaves) are linear and measure from 1.5 to 3cm, not sharp, green on the upper side and silver on the underside. The bark of its trunk is whitish. Blooms in springand its cones are divided into female cones that are greenish and measure from 10 to 18cm; and male that are yellowish and measure 7 to 12mm.

Its growth rate is rather slow, especially during the first year, but its longevity is amazing: can live more than 400 years.

How do you take care of yourself?

The growth of the Abies alba is slow, so you have to be patient

If you want to decorate your garden with a white fir, we recommend providing the following care:

Weather

Being a typical species of mountainous landscapes, it is very important that we take the climate into account. To be able to cultivate it successfully we have to have the garden at an altitude of between 800 and 2000 metersand there must be a rainfall of at least 1000 meters per year.

Temperatures should be mild in summer (30ºC or lower) and cold (with frost) in winter.

Location

Due to its size and its climatic needs, it has to be located abroadeither as an isolated specimen or in alignments.

Land

It has to be fertilewith good drainage and fresh. Its ideal pH is slightly acidic (between 5 and 6.5), although it also grows in limestone.

Irrigation

Irrigation it has to be frequentespecially in the hottest months. We will water every 2-3 days in summer, and every 5-6 days the rest of the year. We must avoid waterlogging as well as drought of the soil.

Planting time

We will plant it in the garden in springwhen the risk of frost has passed.

Multiplication

To obtain new copies of Abies alba you have to sow your seedseither stratifying them in the refrigerator for three months or directly in the seedbed. Let’s see how to proceed in each case:

Stratification

If we live in an area where the climate is rather warm, or where there are no significant frosts, we will have to stratify the seeds in winter as follows:

  1. The first thing to do is fill a clear plastic tupperware with vermiculite.
  2. Then we sow the seeds inside and cover them with more vermiculite.
  3. Afterwards, we sprinkle copper or sulfur to prevent the appearance of fungi.
  4. Finally, we water, close the tupperware and place it in the fridge at 4ºC for three months.

Once a week, We will take it out and open it so that the air is renewed. After the months, we will sow the seeds in pots as explained here.

Direct sowing

If we live in an area where the climate is favorable to common fir, We can sow its seeds directly in the seedbed in autumn as follows:

  1. We fill a pot with universal culture substrate mixed with 30% perlite.
  2. We place a maximum of two seeds in each one and cover them with a thin layer of substrate.
  3. We sprinkle copper or sulfur to prevent fungus.
  4. We water conscientiously.

The first will germinate throughout the spring.

Rusticity

Withstands frosts up to -17ºC.

Can it be worked as bonsai?

Fortunately, yes. These are your cares:

  • Location: outside, protected from the sun.
  • Substratum: it must be slightly acidic. We recommend mixing kanuma with kiryuzuna in equal parts.
  • Irrigation: frequent. It is necessary to avoid that the substrate is completely dry.
  • Subscriber: from spring to autumn, with specific bonsai fertilizers.
  • Pruning: before growth is renewed. The branches have to be trimmed leaving one or more buds, depending on the size of the plant.
  • Styles: Chokkan and Yoseue.
  • Transplant: every two years, in spring.

What uses does it have?

Multiply Abies alba by seeds in autumn

Ornamental

The Abies alba it is a very ornamental conifer. It is very beautiful in large gardenswhere it can be seen in all its splendor. It is very decorative and, as we have seen, relatively easy to care for, so if we are in a good area, acquiring one is a great idea.

Medicinal

It has several medicinal uses:

  • Internally: It has anti-cold, anti-flu and diuretic properties. They will drink four cups of infusion of leaves a day.
  • Externally: it is healing and decisive. It is applied on tumors and abscesses.
    • As friction: it is a good remedy for pain caused by rheumatism.
  • Household disinfectant: always with caution as the essence of fir can cause allergies.

What did you think of the Abies alba?

Abies alba, the common garden spruce

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