Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Abies nordmanniana

Caucasian Fir · Crimean Fir · Kazazdagi Fir

Family PinaceaeGenus Abies

Flat sprays of short glossy needles showing their pale undersides where the shoots turn
LeafFranz XaverCC BY-SA 3.0
Caucasian Fir Abies nordmanniana in mountains of Western Caucasus in vicinities of Sochi
The whole plantSKasCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
40-60 ft12-18 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
15-25 ft4.6-7.6 mNotes from web searches
Flower
InsignificantExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, TürkiyeGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
4-6Notes from web searches

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to partial shadeNotes from web searches
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Organic matter
HighNotes from web searches
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Not tolerant of excessive heat or prolonged dry periodsNotes from web searches

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

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Notes from web searches — Amir Abed; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • One of the most important Christmas trees: its needles are not sharp and do not drop readily. It is named for the Finnish zoologist Alexander von Nordmann. Wikipedia: Abies nordmanniana

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 30, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 6 days.

9% germination in 6 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abies p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Abies (Pinaceae). A. nordmanniana germ. 70D(llBin 5th w) and 40-70D( 1/11 on 6th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abies p. 82. 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.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

Germinates in 35 days.

Deno's figure here is printed "llB" and cannot be read.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abies p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Abies (Pinaceae). A. nordmanniana germ. 70D(llBin 5th w) and 40-70D( 1/11 on 6th d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abies p. 82. 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

Add to My Garden

View species page