ABIES FRASERI – FIR, FRASER
Best for moist to wet soils in the mountains near its native habitat, but adapts to dry sites as well. Firs like an organic soil or organic matter incorporated into the potential root zone. Makes one of the nicest Christmas trees and is very popular. Annual fertilization in the Christmas tree farm has been found to increase the retail value by 20%.
This is a tree best saved for planting in the mountains and not brought to the landscapes on the piedmont and coastal planes. Roots of firs are usually shallow and grow straight out from the trunk. Needles are less fragrant than A. balsamea. Red squirrels love the terminal buds and seeds. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.