SEEDS OF SILVER FIR - ABIES ALBA

The Silver Fir or Abies alba is the specie first used as Christmas tree. The wood is moderately soft and white and is used for general construction and paper manufacture.

F.R.M., Selected Stand. Francia, AAL402 Massif Central Est.

It is a large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 30-50 m tall with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m. The leaves are needle-like, flattened, glossy dark green above, and with two greenish-white bands of stomata below. The tip of the leaf is usually slightly notched at the tip. The cones are 9-17 cm long, each scale with an exserted bract and two winged seeds. Medium to fast growing tree. 

Depending on the geographical areas and altitude sowing can take place from February to April. Stratify in cold the seeds for 60 days before the sowing. It is possible to use a sowing substrate for potting or soil from the garden together with a sowing substrate if the sowing is made directly into the garden. The substrate must be wet but not soggy until the germination is completed.