Abies fraseri (Fraser Fir)

A slow growing evergreen tree, which is pyramidal in shape with horizontal branches.  It is dense when young but opens up with age.  The bark starts off as a dull green but turns brown as it matures and tends to have patches of resin blisters. New stems are grey/light brown and 2.5cm flattened, needles, with silver undersides, densley cover the branches. It produces resinous buds and upright, oval, 4-6 cm cones which start off purple and mature to a brown/tan colour. The cones have pointed toothed bracts which protrude from the scales and the seeds are released in autumn (Sept-Oct).  

Native to the Appalachian Mountains in the south eastern United States it grows best in moist, but well drained, fertile soil in full sun. It will survive in dry conditions but much prefers cooler climates.


Abies fraseri as a Christmas tree

This is a more recent addition to the choices of trees available as Christmas trees. It is very popular in Eastern USA and originates in North Carolina and Virginia.

This tree is similar in appearance to the Abies nordmanniana but is slimmer at the bottom, so if space is a premium then this could be the tree for you. It's needles are mid to dark green and are soft, wide and flat. The tree has very little scent, is quite dense in appearance and has plenty of branches towards the top of the tree giving it a fuller appearance.

This tree tends to grow naturally with a crooked leading branch which does add character to it's appearance.