General Plant Information (Edit)
| Plant Habit: |
Tree
|
| Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun
|
| Water Preferences: |
Mesic
|
| Soil pH Preferences: |
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
|
| Minimum cold hardiness: |
Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
|
| Maximum recommended zone: |
Zone 6b
|
| Plant Height: |
30 to 50 feet in landscapes; 130 to 200 feet in native wild |
| Leaves: |
Evergreen
Needled
|
| Uses: |
Provides winter interest
|
| Pollinators: |
Wind
|
| Miscellaneous: |
Monoecious
|
| Conservation status: |
Least Concern (LC)
|
- European Silver Fir
- Silver Fir
- Swiss Pine
Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Dec 1, 2019 4:06 PM concerning plant:
This conifer is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe. Its flat needles are 0.7 to 1.2 inches long by about 0.8 inches wide and are regularly spaced in 2 ranks. The needle tip is usually slightly notched. Foliage is dark, glossy green above with two large silver-white stomata bands below, and fragrant when crushed. Looking back at the tree, it has a silver sheen to it. It develops large dark brown cones about 3.6 to 7.2 inches long by 1.2 to 1.6 inches wide. The cones have about 150 to 200 scales. Very beautiful tree. I've only seen three specimens planted at Morton Arboretum in northeast Illinois and I don't know of it used in the Midwest or Mid-Atlantic of the USA. It has been planted and is common in northern Europe. It has been used as a Christmas tree and was the original Oh, Tannenbaum.
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![Date: c. 1888
illustration [as Picea excelsa] from 'Gartenflora', 1888](/pics/2022-03-12/scvirginia/333fad-250.jpg "Date: c. 1888
illustration [as Picea excelsa] from 'Gartenflora', 1888")
