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Abies alba

European Silver Fir · Silver Fir · Christmastree

Family PinaceaeGenus Abies

Two upright green fir cones flecked with white resin, standing on a branch among flat needles
FruitJerzy OpiołaCC BY-SA 3.0
The narrow crown of a tall silver fir against a clear blue sky
The whole plantCrusierCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, TreePLANTS Database
Height
130-160 ft40-49 mNotes from web searches
Spread
15 ft4.6 mNotes from web searches
Native range
South Eastern EuropeNotes from web searches
Hardiness zones
4-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to partial shadeNotes from web searches
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Organic matter
Moderate to HighNotes from web searches
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Consistently moist, never waterloggedNotes from web searches

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Notes from web searches — Amir Abed; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

  • The first tree used as a Christmas tree, since largely replaced by Nordmann fir and Norway spruce. Its leaves, bark and wood were used to make spruce beer. Wikipedia: Abies alba

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

41% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Abies p. 10Public domain
Show the original text
Abies (Pinaceae). Grateful acknowledgement is made to Schumacher Seed Company of MA for a gift of fifteen species of this genus. All fifteen germ. at 70D albeit somewhat slowly with germination taking place in 5-10 weeks. Some gave slightly greater percent germination with light or in a 40-70D pattern, but, GA-3, OS, or OT had no significant effects. Some germ. at 40. A significant number of the seeds rotted indicating ,that they were dead.'but there was no simple way of detecting such seeds from outward appearance nor of separating them. The seeds of all .fifteen species were largely viable and producing healthy seedlings. SUMMARY OF RESULTS ON FIFTEEN SPECIES OF ABIES Species ' Germination in 70D 40-70D Results ((cc)) Percent Time A. alba 30% 6-9 weeks 40(5%)-70(41 %) 0
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Abies p. 10. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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