Abies veitchii
Christmastree · Veitch Fir · Veitch's Silver-fir

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
- Coniferous, TreeNotes from web searches
- Height
- 80-100 ft24-30 mNotes from web searches
- Spread
- 25-35 ft8-11 mNotes from web searches
- Native range
- JapanGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Note
- Cool, wet, mountain climatesNotes from web searches
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shadeNotes from web searches
- Soil
- Well-drained soilNotes from web searches
- Soil pH
- 5-7Notes from web searches
- Organic matter
- HighNotes from web searches
- Moisture
- Even and consistent moistureNotes from web searches
- Watering
- Regular watering, especially during establishmentNotes 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; Notes from web searches — Amir Abed; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Worth knowing
- Veitch's fir is named after John Gould Veitch, who saw it on Mount Fuji in 1860 and identified it for European botanists. It is very shade-tolerant when young, but not long-lived. Wikipedia: Abies veitchii
Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998Difficulty Moderate
Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
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.
55% germination.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty High
Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.
15% germination in 14 days.
Light made no difference and neither did a five-minute detergent wash.
Protocol 3
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Very high
Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
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; time not stated, 21 days assumed.
3% germination.
Protocol 4
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Gibberellic acid soak
Sow and cover
Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark
No stated waiting before sowing.
0% germination.
The seeds rotted.
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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