Abies pinsapo aka Spanish Fir

Abies pinsapo, also known as the Spanish fir, is a medium-sized coniferous shrub or small tree. It is native to southern Spain and northern Morocco, specifically found in the Sierra de Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves, Sierra Bermeja, and the Rif Mountains. This evergreen tree can reach heights of up to 80 feet and widths of 15 to 25 feet, with a columnar shape when young and a more irregular habit as it matures. The leaves are rigid and tapered, radiating from all sides of the branchlets. The new foliage emerges in a golden-yellow color before turning green. The needles are sharp and arranged radially on the shoot, ranging from dark green to blue. In spring, beautiful raspberry colored buds appear, and the cones are cylindrical, starting off yellow to green and ripening to brown. It prefers partial shade and ample water in well-drained soil, but can tolerate dry and alkaline conditions. The cultivar 'Aurea' is a slow-growing variety with a conical shape and flat, blunt, yellow needles. This dense fir thrives in acidic soil and prefers cooler climates.