Scientific Name:
Abies fraseri
Pronunciation:
AY-beez FRAY-zer-aye
Common Name:
Fraser fir
Family Name:
Pinaceae
Plant Type:
Conifer
Key ID Features:
Needles not strongly scented, spirally arranged on the twigs and directed forward (rarely twisted at the base to spread into two rows), 1.2-2.5cm long x 1.5-2mm wide (broadest near apex), flat, tips mostly rounded (may be acute or notched on shoots with buds or cones), upper surface grooved and with some stomatal rows, lower surface white with (8-)10(-12) stomatal rows on each side of midrib; leaf scars rounded, strong turpentine-like odour when crushed; seed cones erect, most 3.5-6cm long x 2.5-4cm wide; scales 0.7-1cm x 1-1.3cm, pubescent; bracts protruding, rounded, reflexed over scales, dark purple turning light brown when mature; seeds brown 4-5mm long x 2-3mm wide with purple wings about 5mm long; seedling usually with 5 cotyledons. Conifers.org
Habit:
Dense, Stiffly upright
Form:
Pyramidal - narrowly
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
15 - 22m
Mature Spread:
7 - 10m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
U.S. - northeast (Appalachian Mountains, E US)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Forestry, Group or mass planting, Hedge row, Screening, Shade tree, Specimen plant, Tall background, Wind break
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to balsam fir (needles similar but lacks the protruding cone bracts).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Needle-like
Arrangement:
Spiraled
Texture/Venation:
Leathery
Surfaces:
Glabrous, Glaucous, Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green, silvery underside
Colour in Fall:
Silver / Grayish
Shapes:
Linear, Obovate
Apices:
Emarginate or retuse, Rounded
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
grooved above
Inflorescence Type:
n/a (male cone)
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Colour (petals):
Male cone, No flowers, Brown
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar, Apr
Fruit Type:
Cone (winged seeds)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Bark Morphology:
Smooth, Moderately fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Ovoid
Leaf Scar Shape:
Round
Organ Modifications:
Ectomycorrhizae
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids or adelgids (Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
Course(s):
- HORT 1155
Location(s):
- (GRB) GRass Bed
- (GRBE) GRass Bed East : dwarf cv.
- (JPL) Juglans PLanting
- (NRY) NuRserY
- (TFLN) Turf Field Lab North
- (TFLW) Turf Field Lab West
- (WDH) Wark-Dumais House