| General Description | A medium to large sized evergreen tree, needles are a dark, glossy green colour and produces cones that appear blueish purple while they are young then brown as the tree matures. |
| ID Characteristic | Glossy, dark green needles that are 1 -2 cm long and about 0.15 cm wide with chalky white bands on the underside and a needle apex that is notched. These needles are very dense in the crown and around the stem with lower needles spreading outward and inner needles erect and shorter. The most obvious ID characteristic of this specimen are its distinctly bluish-purple cones that are produced while the tree is still relatively young. |
| Shape | Narrow, upright, conical crowned tree that usually grows 15-23 metres tall. |
| Landscape | The Veitch Fir is an excellent choice for any landscape due to its hardiness and thick and attractive foliage. This makes this tree a perfect choice to plant as a specimen tree in any backyard or park setting as long as it is grown in the proper conditions. In addition to the standard Veitch Fir, there are also many different cultivars that provide excellent ornamental value to any landscape, specifically the Hedregott Veitch Fir which is much smaller than the standard species making it much more manageable to plant and also has needles with brilliant bright white undersides that match and winter environment and will be sure to catch the eye of any spectator. |
| Propagation | When propagating the Veitch Fir there is a significant increase in germination percentages when the seeds are stratified during planting. The seeds should be stratified in a moist medium at 5 degrees Celsius for 15-30 days. The seeds should be planted in early February if it is being propagated in a greenhouse or in late March if it is being planted outside. As soon as the seedlings grow large enough to handle without damaging, transfer them into pots and grown them for at least their first winter in the pots. Next, re-plant the trees in their permanent positions in either late spring or early summer. This should be after the final frost of the year in order to protect the young trees from potential frost damage as they will not yet be hardy enough to withstand the cold. The ideal spot to plant this tree should have at least partial shade with moist but well drained soil. |
| Cultivation | The Veitch Fir grows at high elevations usually between 1200 – 2800 metres. It prefers to grow in moist but not overly waterlogged soils. This tree is very tolerant to partial shade, especially when it is young, however its growth is slowed considerably in dense shade. It prefers to be grown in slightly acidic soil (pH 5). |
| Pests | The Veitch Fir like most other fir species is susceptible to pests and diseases, specifically spruce budworm, wooly adelgid as well as several other canker diseases. |
| Habitat | This tree is native to central and southern Japan. It ranges from eastern Asia to Japan and is typically found growing at high elevations (1200 – 2800 metres). |
| Bark/Stem Description | The bark of this tree is light grey in colour and very smooth. The bark will also show signs of resin blisters which is common in many firs. Stems appear green in colour when young, becoming more of a reddish-brown when matured. The stems are also pubescent, with short brown hairs. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | The Veitch Fir has small, resinous buds that are nearly globular and greyish-brown in colour. |
| Leaf Description | The needles of this tree are 1 – 2 cm long and 0.15 cm wide and gradually taper closer to the base of the stem. The upper surface of the needles are a glossy dark green colour and the underside of the needles have very prominent chalky white bands of stomata. The apex of these needles are notched and the foliage is very dense with the inner needles being noticeably shorter and more erect than the lower needles. |
| Flower Description | The Veitch Fir has flowers that are monoecious, meaning it has both male and female flowers that bloom in May. These flowers are inconspicuous and very difficult to see. |
| Fruit Description | This tree produces fruit in the form of cylindrical, sessile cones, 5 – 7 cm long and 2 and ½ cm wide. These cones appear blueish grey when the tree is young, turning brown as the tree continues to mature. These cones taper slightly and have yellowish green bracts. |
| Colour Description | The needles of the Veitch Fir are dark green and glossy with white bands on the underside of the needle. Its stems are reddish brown in colour and its bark is a shade of light grey. While the tree is still young its cones are a bluish-purple colour, however the begin to turn brown as the tree matures. |
| Texture Description | The stems of this tree are pubescent with short brown hairs. The actual wood of the tree is described as a medium texture and is relatively strong and elastic. The bark of the Veitch Fir is also extremely smooth. |