Abies sibirica aka Siberian Fir
Taxonomy ID: 13346
Abies sibirica, or Siberian fir, belongs to the pine family. This evergreen tree comes from eastern Europe and temperate Asia. Its range crosses Russia and reaches northern China. It also grows in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In northeastern Russia, it forms broad forests on cool, wet mountainsides. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.
The crown forms a cone and grows narrower with age. Garden trees can exceed 39 feet [12 metres] in height. Large trees reach about 98–115 feet [30–35 metres]. The RHS gives a spread of 13–26 feet [4–8 metres]. Trees take 20–50 years to reach their mature size. Soft, flat needles stay green throughout the year. Each has two pale bands on its lower face. The needles smell sweet and measure 0.07–0.10 feet [0.02–0.03 metres] long. Young shoots have a yellow-grey colour and carry resin.
Chicago Botanic Garden lists green flowers from March to April. The seed cones stand upright along the branches. They have a long, rounded shape with fairly straight sides. The RHS records cones 0.16–0.30 feet [0.05–0.09 metres] long. Chicago reports some reaching about 0.33 feet [0.10 metres]. They break apart on the tree after releasing their seeds.
Grow this fir in full sun and deep soil. It prefers slight acidity, though the RHS also lists neutral soil. Keep the soil moist, but allow excess water to drain. Clay, loam and sand can all support it. Cold continental climates suit it better than hot summers. The RHS reports survival at temperatures down to −50°C. It assigns H7 hardiness; Chicago lists USDA zones 1–6. Even so, late frost can harm new shoots. Humid conditions raise the risk of fungal disease. Aphids, adelgids and honey fungus may also cause problems.
Siberian fir can serve as a shade or specimen tree. It also suits the canopy of a woodland garden. It needs no routine pruning and can grow from seed. Its light, soft wood supplies framing timber, furniture and pulp. The wood does not last well. Oil from the leaves has reported medicinal uses. PFAF records no known edible uses or known hazards. That record does not establish that the plant is safe to eat.
Common names
Siberian Fir, Siberian Silver Fir, Avet Siberi (Ca)More information about Siberian Fir
How big does Siberian Fir grow?
Abies sibirica is a large evergreen tree, typically reaching 30 to 35 metres tall with a trunk 0.5 to 1 metre in diameter and a narrow conical crown. The American Conifer Society classifies it in the "Large" growth category, exceeding 12 inches per year and surpassing 12 feet within 10 years, though growth slows in dense shade. The tallest cultivated specimen on record reached 40.5 metres in Finland.
What are the lighting needs of Siberian Fir?
Siberian fir is very shade-tolerant, especially when young, and naturally grows in the understorey of dense boreal forests. It will also accept full sun in cool climates, but growth slows noticeably in deep shade.
What temperatures does Siberian Fir tolerate?
This is one of the hardiest conifers in cultivation, surviving temperatures below -45.6°C (-50°C / -58°F) and rated to UK Zone 1. It thrives in cool, moist boreal climates and tends to underperform in milder regions; spring frost can damage early new growth.
What seasonal care does Siberian Fir need
Siberian fir is evergreen and requires no seasonal leaf management. In its native range it experiences extreme winter cold (down to −50°C) and recovers fully each spring. No special winter protection is needed in suitable hardiness zone 1–5 climates.
Does Siberian Fir have a scent?
The soft, flattened needles of Abies sibirica are strongly aromatic, and essential oils distilled from the foliage are used in aromatherapy, perfumery, and cosmetics as masking and perfuming agents.
Does Siberian Fir flower?
As a conifer, Abies sibirica does not produce true flowers. Instead it bears cylindrical seed cones 5 to 9.5 centimetres long that ripen from bluish to brown or dark brown in mid-autumn, following pollination in May.
What varieties of Siberian Fir exist?
Two subspecies are recognised: subsp. sibirica, which spans the species' enormous native range from European Russia through Siberia to the Russian Far East and northern China, and subsp. semenovii, restricted to the mountains of Central Asia. At least 17 named cultivars exist for ornamental use.
How do you grow Siberian Fir outdoors?
Plant young trees 30–90 cm tall in moist, mildly acidic soil in a cool climate; the species tolerates light sandy through heavy clay soils but dislikes waterlogging and atmospheric pollution. It is best suited to cold-temperate and boreal regions and frequently underperforms where summers are warm.
How do you propagate Siberian Fir?
Propagation is primarily by seed sown in late winter or early spring (February under glass or March outdoors); stratification produces more even germination, which takes 6–8 weeks, and seed remains viable for about 5 years. Lower branches will also root naturally where they touch the ground.
What pests and diseases affect Siberian Fir?
Wood decay and rot are the dominant problems for Abies sibirica, generally limiting its lifespan to 150–200 years. The fungus Delphinella balsameae causes shoot blight on the species, and late frost injury and air-pollution damage have also been reported.
How is Siberian Fir pollinated?
Trees are monoecious and wind-pollinated, with pollen released in May and seeds ripening from October to November.
Is Siberian Fir edible?
No edible parts are known for Abies sibirica; PFAF rates its edibility 0 of 5.
What are the medicinal uses of Siberian Fir?
Essential oil distilled from the leaves is reported to have antirheumatic, expectorant, and stimulant properties, and yields Siberian Pine Oil that has been used as a rubefacient. PFAF gives the species a modest medicinal rating of 1 of 5.
What are the other uses of Siberian Fir?
The light, soft, not very durable wood is used for light-frame construction, poles, pilings, furniture, and pulp. Aromatic essential oil from the foliage is used in aromatherapy, perfumery, cosmetics, and tonics, and the tree is also grown as a Christmas tree and ornamental, with at least 17 named cultivars in circulation.
Sources
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