Culture
Best grown in rich, consistently moist, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best in full sun. Trees grow poorly in heavy clay soils. Trees are native to cool climates, and are not recommended for planting in the hot and humid summer conditions south of USDA Zone 6.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Abies nordmanniana, commonly called Caucasian fir or Nordmann fir, is native to the Caucasus Mountains. This is a dense, pyramidal conifer that typically grows to 50' tall and 20' wide in cultivation, but may reach 200' tall in its native habitat. Trees are typically branched to the ground. Branches are densely clad with flattened, glossy dark green needles (to 1 1/4” long). Needles have two white bands underneath. Bark is charcoal gray. Cylindrical seed cones (to 6" long) are dark reddish-brown. As is distinctive with the firs, the cones appear upright on the branches. Cones disintegrate (scales drop) after the seeds ripen.
Subsp. equi-trojani, sometimes commonly called trojan fir, is native to northwestern Turkey. It was discovered growing on Mt. Ida in 1883. It differs from species plants by having denser and blunter needles that form v-shaped grooves above the twigs.
This subspecies is synonymous with and sometimes described by a number of different botanical names including Abies cephalonica var. graeca or Abies cephalonica var. apollinis or Abies equi-trojani.
Genus name is an ancient Latin name for a tree described by Pliny around 77 A.D.
Specific epithet honors Alexander Davidovic von Nordmann (1803-1866), Finnish naturalist, who discovered this species growing in the Caucasus in 1836-1837.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Insect pests include balsam woolly adelgids, bark beetles, spruce budworms, aphids, bagworms and scale. Spider mites may occur in hot conditions. Disease problems include cankers, heart rot, root rot, needle rust and twig blight Trees are generally intolerant of urban pollution.
Uses
Specimen fir for the landscape. Ornamental yard tree. Not recommended for the St. Louis climate.