There are about 40 species of Fir that grow in the temperate and subalpine areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Two species are native to eastern North America: the Balsam and Frasier Firs and seven to western North America. Fir needles are flat, soft, and are directly attached to the twig, leaving a suction-cup kind of scar when falling off. The seed cones are borne erect on the twigs and disintegrate when mature, releasing the seeds. A spike-like axis is left for a time as the remnant of the former cone. The buds are plump and blunt and usually are resinous. Like Spruces and Douglas-Firs, the trees grow in a pyramidal habit. The wood is not highly regarded as lumber. The trees make high quality landscape trees and the best Christmas trees, as the needles hold on longer than other conifers inside houses.

Reply to this comment