Abies mariesii (Marie's Fir)
Michael's Opinion
Abies mariesii is a high altitude plant requiring well-drained soils and wet climatic conditions in full sun. It is not recommended for landscape use due to its overall size and specific growing requirements.
Botanical Information
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Genus | Abies |
| Species | mariesii |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| References | Kohyama, Takashi. "Growth pattern of Abies mariesii saplings under conditions of open-growth and suppression." Journal of Plant Research 93.1 (1980): 13-24. |
| Origin | Native to the mountains of central and northern Honsh?, Japan. |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 6 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 5a - 6a |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H6 - H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -23 -(-18) |
| Temperature (°F) | -10 - 0 |
| Height | 15 - 30 m |
| Spread | 10 - 15 m |
| Growth | Slow |
| Flowering Period | May |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Pyramidal high altitude tree with greyish-brown bark. |
| ID Characteristic | Greyish-brown rigid branches which attach to the trunk at a 90° angle. |
| Shape | Pyramidal. |
| Propagation | Germinate from seed, stratification may be beneficial. |
| Cultivation | Grows best in moist, well-drained soils. |
| Pests | Susceptible to chalcids. |
| Habitat | High altitudes in the Yatsugatake Mountains, Japan. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Greyish brown, fairly rigid. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Small, reddish-brown and resinous. 5-10 cm in length. |
| Leaf Description | Close-growing needles and regular whorls of branches. Light or dark green, fairly stiff, ranging from 7-3 cm in length. |
| Flower Description | Dark brownish-black colour, 4-7 mm in length. |
| Fruit Description | Ovular, 6-15 cm in length. |
| Colour Description | Bark is greyish-brown while the foliage is an elegant green colour. |
| Texture Description | Coarse. |
Photographs
