Abies nordmanniana: Nordmann fir - native to Russia and Turkey and ornamental in Europe, England and Denmark. Seed orchards have been established to develope and maximize various traits (color, rate of growth, form, etc.). Treehaven is presently evaluating 8 seed origins. This tree is free of most insects and diseases. Outstanding for floral use. Prone to deer browsing, however.

Noble (abies procera): A native fir. Top of the line Christmas tree on the west coast. A lovely, graceful tree with exceptional foilage. Treehaven continues to evaluate new seed origins to find one suitable in the eastern United States. Our hot, dry summers hinder survival. Overall yearly precipitation is barely adequate as well.

Korean fir (abies Koreana) - Native to Korea. Introduced into other countries. Hardier than originally thought. A slow growing ornamental with early coning. Twist to needle reveals silver underneath.

Japanese/Momi fir - "Dixie fir" (abies firma) - Native to Japan. Introduced in China. Most tolerant of higher soil temperature, hence deeper souther range in the the United States. A graceful ornamental. Useful as understork for grafting Concolor, etc. (Photo courtesy of J.C. Raulston, N.C. Arboretum)

Pacific Silver fir (abies amabilis) - A native fir found in the states of Oregon and Washington, British Columbia and Coastal Alaska. Enjoys a cool, damp atmosphere and prefers rich humus soil. A lovely tree but may never be grown widely as a cut Christmas tree.

Turkish fir (abies bormmuelleriana). Our Olympic fir (tm). A faster growing cousin to Nordmann. Generally lighter colored lovely green foliage. Tolerant of various soils and sites, but avoid weter areas. Drought hardy. General freshness and needle retention excellent, even better than noble fir. Free of most insect and diseases.

Grand fir (abies grandis). A native fir growing in the northwest and into Canada. Inland Idaho origins preferred for nice color, form and rate of growth. Most aromatic of all abies evaluated to date. In ten years or so in the field, sap blisters form on the trunk. When punctured, as strong citrus aroma is given off.

As a Christmas tree, occasional breaking of a blister keeps this scent in the house all holiday season. Faster growing origins are under investigation. Not prone to frost injury. Adapts to various soils and sites. Must keep water in stand to reduce drying tendency. Easy to culture. Deer avoid Grand Fir.

Concolor or white fir (abies concolor). Pictured is Treehaven's heavenly blue. Becoming a popular Christmas tree with midwest and eastern growers. A good survivor in hot, dry climiates. Our origin is a fast grower with lovely color and light in form. Generally insect and disease free. Foliage also popular with wreath makers and other floral use.

Part of the evaluation process may include side by side comparisons such as pictured in this Fraser/Balsum/Canaan planting. Survival, plant size/age, years to harvest, bud break, frost hardiness, and adaptability to the soil and site, are a few factors being evaluated. With so many factors to be considered, it may become a process of elimination in picking those suitable to your farm and/or market.

Pictured here is a transplant bed of Nordmann fir from greenhouse grown "plugs." Survivability, rate of growth, form, and foliage color are being carefully observed. This origin appears to be suited for plantings in Western New York State. Seed was collected from an improved French orchard.

Cilician fir (abies cilicica) - Native to Turkey and Northern Syria. Lives in a Mediterranean type climate characterized by hot, dry symmers and colder, moist winters. Foliage resembles Nordmanniana. Relatively slow growth. Seed crops infrequent.

Meyer Spruce (picea meyeri) - Native to China and also found in Russia. Pleasent blue, soft needled spruce. Very hardy to zone 3. Slow to medium fast grower. Appears to have better resistance to insects than our native blue spruce. Adapts to wide range of soils and sites. Photo shows the transplant bed - four years old from seed.

Colorado Blue Spruce (picea pungens) - Treehaven's "Super Blue" spruce. Characterized by bright blue color. Widely used as an ornamental or cut Christmas tree.

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