Caucasian fir - cultivation, varieties, diseases

Table of contents

Caucasian fir(Abies nordmanniana), also known as Nordman fir or Normandy fir, comes from the western Caucasus and northwestern Turkey. In Poland, it is one of the most popular species of fir grown as ornamental plants. Thanks to its regular habit, it is often used as a Christmas tree. See what it looks likegrowing Caucasian firin the garden, get to know the bestvarieties of Caucasian firfor planting in gardens and allotments and learn how to combat diseases and pests attacking Caucasian fir


Caucasian fir (Abies nordmanniana)

Caucasian fir - cultivation

Cultivation of Caucasian firrequires meeting quite high requirements of this plant. First of all, it is about high air humidity. Thereforeit is best to plant Caucasian fir near ponds or ponds .
Caucasian fir requires a moist, fertile, loamy substrateacidic or slightly acidic. It will not grow in sandy, well-drained, barren soils. It tolerates drought very badly, so in hot and rainless summers it is necessary to regularly water and fog.
This plantprefers a sunny position , but is also good at semi-shaded locations. Has high thermal requirements. Young Caucasian fir shoots may freeze during spring frosts, because the tree starts its vegetation very early. Rapid temperature changes and cold and drying windsare particularly harmful to Caucasian fir, therefore it needs sheltered and secluded places.

Due to the flowering season in April and May,Caucasian fir is best planted or transplanted in late summer or early autumn(August-September). During this time, it will have time to take root and acclimatize to a new place before the onset of cold weather. Young plants are very sensitive to frost, therefore it is advisable to protect these conifers for the winter in the first years of their life.
Due to the high humidity requirements and poor frost resistance,Caucasian fir is suitable primarily for cultivation in the western part of Poland(especially in Western Pomerania).

Good to knowCaucasian fir is completely intolerant to air pollution, therefore it is not suitable for cultivation in large cities and heavily industrialized regions.

Caucasian fir - varieties

Caucasian Fir 'Golden Spreader'- a dwarf variety of Caucasian Fir with slow growth (after 10 years it reaches 1 m in height).A tree with a compact, bushy habit with a characteristic depression at the top of the crown. Shiny needles, golden-yellow shade, yellow-white underneath. The variety is recommended for rock gardens.
Caucasian fir 'Pendula'- a collector's variety of Caucasian fir with a conical crown, growing up to 4.5 m in height. Side shoots gently hang down along the trunk. The variety is quite sensitive to unfavorable growing conditions, requires humid air and a sheltered position.
Caucasian Fir 'Barabits Compact'- a dwarf variety with a spherical shape. It grows very slowly (after 10 years it reaches 0.5 m in height). It is most decorative in spring, when young growths with a bright, lush green shade appear. Over time, the needles darken to a dark green color. It requires a sunny position because in shaded places it maintains a compact habit and loses its decorative appearance. This variety is very sensitive to spring frosts, therefore it is recommended for cultivation only in warmer regions of Poland.
Caucasian fir 'Robusta'- fast growing variety. It is characterized by an irregular habit with a slender and loose crown. The needles on the shoots are short, thick and stiff, arranged radially. The needles have a tendency to turn upside down, making the tree appear drenched with snow. This variety is quite resistant to low temperatures.
Caucasian Fir 'Aurea'- slow growing variety with a conical shape. A characteristic feature of this variety is the golden yellow color of the needles, especially intense in the autumn and winter.

Caucasian fir - diseases

Fir phytophthora(Phytophthora citricola) - it is a fungal disease that affects the root system of the plant. Symptoms of phytophthora appear most often in rainy and warm summers.At the tops of young shoots, the needles initially turn yellow and then turn reddish-brown.The shoots curl downwards and the entire plant is stunted and slowly dies.Under the bark, the trunk takes on a characteristic red color. After digging the tree out of the ground , the roots show rot , extending to the base of the trunk.
In orderto prevent the development of this disease, firshould only be planted he althy trees, which come from proven breeding. Before planting the tree, it is worth sprinkling it with composted pine bark, which has antiseptic properties.
After the first symptoms of the disease are noticed, the tree should be removed and the neighboring trees sprayed with the fungicide Polyversum WP (5 g of the agent per 10 l of water), Magnicur Energy 840 SL (20 ml in 10 l of water) or Proplant 722 SL (30 ml of the agent in 10 l of water). 10 liters of water). Before planting a new tree in place of a removed one, the soil must also be decontaminated with a fungicide.
Firs can also be attacked by pests , the most common of which is the fir bite (Aphrastasia pectinatae). It is an aphid that feeds on the underside of fir needles.Fir needles attacked by insects grow weaker, fall off, and over time the entire branches turn brown and die. The control of aphids is carried out during the growing season by spraying with insecticides such as Polysect OCHOJNIK Long Acting 005 SL (use 10 ml of the agent in 1 liter of water).
The following year, in the early spring period (February to March), we perform preventive spraying with Promanal 60 EC (20 ml of the agent in 1 liter of water) or Emulpar 940 EC. Spraying in early spring with the above-mentioned oil preparations is much less harmful than spraying in the growing season, and it effectively protects firs against the reappearance of aphids.

MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach

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