Fir, Spanish
Abies pinsapo
Pinaceae - Pine

Description

Leaves: Needles borne singly; 1/4" to 5/8" long; not flattened in cross-section like most firs; evergreen; dark-green above and white below; very distinct arrangement, evenly distributed around branchlets, bottle-brushy, stiff.

Twigs/buds: Twigs fairly stout; gray. Buds small, round, sticky.

Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Fruit a cone; 3/4" long; brown.

Bark: Thin; smooth; gray; eventually becoming rough.

Wood: Unknown.

General: Native to southern Spain and northern Morocco; not Utah. Appears to tolerate heat and likes sun better than other true firs. Moderately shade tolerant.

Landscape Use: Unusual in Utah, but an interesting tree that should be tried more. I have seen a medium-sized, blueish-foliaged Spanish fir growing in the Murray City Park doing quite well (pictured here). There also are cultivars available with yellow foliage. Not as evenly conical as most firs. Foliage texture and color gives this tree a very interesting feel in the landscape. Zones 6-9 (I think it may be safe in zone 5, and 4 -- who knows?).

Cultivars: 'Aurea', 'Glauca'.

Characteristics

---