Fir manchurian seeds

Fir whole-leaved or Black Fir Manchurian, or Black Fir / Abies holophylla - an evergreen tree with a dense, wide-cone-shaped crown with lower branches lowered to the ground. Manchurian fir is a slowly growing tree for the first 6 - 10 years, the annual growth is 7 - 8 centimeters, after this period it begins to grow very quickly 25 - 30 centimeters per year. At the age of ten, the height of the fir is 90 - 100 centimeters, the width of the crown is 60-80 centimeters. In adulthood, it grows rapidly and reaches a height of 30 - 45 meters under natural conditions, with a crown width of 7 - 8 meters.

In black fir, the needles are hard, pointed, the ends of the needles, unlike the needles of other types of fir, are solid, not forked, 2 - 4 centimeters long and 2 - 3 millimeters wide, below with barely noticeable white stripes, located on the shoots of a comb, almost at a right angle. The needles are dark green in color, for the winter it acquires a light brown tint. Every 9 - 12 years the needles on the tree are renewed. Another characteristic feature of this species is the dark gray-brown bark, which often becomes almost black with large longitudinal cracks. It is thanks to the bark that the fir received the popular name "black".

The cones are medium in size, 7.5 - 12 centimeters long and 3 - 4 centimeters wide, the integumentary scales are rounded, expanded at the top, with protruding lateral edges. Cones are light brown in color, cylindrical in shape.

Despite the fact that this species has been introduced into culture in Europe for a long time, it is very rare in Ukraine. Mostly whole-leaved fir can be found in the collections of dendrological parks and botanical gardens. This type of fir is quite decorative, slowly growing at a young age, suitable for landscaping medium-sized and large gardens and parks. It will feel good when landing on the banks of natural and artificial reservoirs, near fountains, waterfalls. Can be used as a Christmas tree. When planting in cities, it should be borne in mind that black fir is not resistant to air pollution, so it is not recommended to plant it in the industrial part of the city or near carriageways.

Manchurian fir is frost-resistant (-30 degrees Celsius). Shade-tolerant, can grow both in the shade and in well-lit areas of the garden. Wind resistant due to well developed root system. Demanding on soil and air moisture, moisture-loving, but at the same time sensitive to stagnant moisture, likes drained soils and air with high levels of humidity. During the summer drought, young plants need weekly watering and sprinkling of the crown. This type of fir is moderately demanding on the composition of the soil, loves soils rich in humus, neutral or slightly alkaline soil composition.