Types And Identification Of The Fir Trees

Most of the cut conifers sold as Christmas trees are nothing, but fir trees. They belong to the family Pinaceae, and classified under the genus name Abies. Sharing taxonomic plant family with the pines, there are about 48-55 fir trees types. Nearly all the varieties have short needles, measuring a few inches in length. These evergreen trees are prized for their adorable, pyramid like canopy shape. One of the interesting fir trees facts is that the evergreen foliage is retained for more than 5 years before shedding. They are fast growing evergreen trees, adapted in moist, well-drained soil, and areas with cool summer temperatures.

Fir Trees - Types and Identification

There are two characteristic features that help in fir tree identification. The first is the presence of a small-sized suction cup at the base of the needle leaf that connects it with the twig, and secondly the development of erect and cylindrical shaped cones. The purplish female cones are developed in the topmost branches below which has the green, pendant shaped male cones. The female cones after fertilization ripens and breaks open in autumn to release seeds. Popular fir trees types that are grown as houseplants or specimen trees are discussed below.

Noble Fir Trees
These are tall fir tree types that can grow to as high as 200 feet, and 5 feet diameter. In fact, they are the largest varieties of all true fir species. The leaves are silvery green in color and ranges from 1-1 ½ inch in length. The high popularity of noble firs (Abies procera) as Christmas trees is attributed to long-lasting leaves that retain for a longer period, even in cut trees. They are also used for making outdoor wreaths and garlands.

Fraser Fir Trees
These fir trees types (Abies fraseri) are named after the renowned botanist, John Fraser who have studied them in detail. The adult trees at maturity grow to about 80 feet. The needle leaves are flattened, ½ to 1 inch long, dark green in color, possesses strong fragrance and arranged spirally in the branches. The distinctive features of these landscaping trees are their small size and upward directing branches.

Douglas Fir Trees
Can you believe the Douglas fir trees live for more than 1000 years? Yes, these highly fragrant, Christmas trees survive for 500 years and more on an average. They are not true firs, hence the scientific name for these evergreen trees is Pseudotsuga menziesii. The foliage is flat, bluish-green in color and measure about 1 to 1 ½ inch in length. Distinctive features include forked bracts, winged seeds and furrowed barks.

Balsam Fir Trees
Balsam fir trees (Abies balsamea) or blister firs are native to the cool regions of North America and Northeastern America. The leaves are ¾ to 1 ½ inch length, and barks of young trees have conspicuous resin blisters. These evergreen trees attain a height of about 15-60 feet at maturity, with a spread of about 25-30 feet. These fir trees types are common Christmas trees, especially in Northeastern America.

Grand Fir Trees
Also called giant fir trees, they are represented by the scientific name, Abies grandis. The common name is coined with reference to its height, which measures about 300 feet. They are easily identifiable from other types of fir trees by their lustrous green, needle-shaped leaves, arranged in two rows in a single plane. When crushed, the leaves give a citrus scent. Giant firs are planted as ornamental trees in formal gardens and large public parks.

If you have a fir tree at home, check the leaf scars left on the twigs after you pick the needles. Nearly all fir trees types are economically important for production of aromatic oils, herbal medicine and paper. Though the wood of these coniferous trees is valuable for making rough timber and plywood, it doesn't meet the qualities of a good timber.