Fraser Fir Abies Fraseri
Named
after John Fraser, the Scottish botanist and explorer who
discovered it in the late 18th century.
Size
The Fraser Fir comes from the
family Pinaceae and is very closely related to the Balsam Fir
(A. Balsamea). It is a coniferous evergreen tree growing to 25m
/ 82 feet tall with a 75cm / 30-inch diameter trunk. The
largest specimen recorded was 26.5m / 87 feet tall with 86cm /
34-inch diameter trunk. They live for an average of 150
years.
Description
The crown is of narrow pyramidal shape with horizontal branches
spreading 6-12m / 20-40 feet. When young, the Fraser fir is
compact with dense branches and foliage making it attractive
and a very popular choice of Christmas tree. As the tree ages
it takes on a more open, sparse appearance.
Distribution and
Climate
The Fraser Fir distribution ranges
from the southeastern Appalachian Mountains of southwestern
Virginia, through western Northern Carolina to eastern
Tennessee. The tree has a shallow root system and prefers
a well drained but moist acidic sandy loam at relatively high
elevations of 1200-2000m / 3937-6562 feet in a cool-temperate,
rain-forest climate. Being one of the few trees growing at high
elevations it plays an important role in preventing soil
erosion, so stabilizing the surrounding terrain.
 Bark and
Leaves
The grey to brown bark is mostly
thin and smooth and can become scaly as it ages. It is
normal for the bark to show many resin blisters. Two rows
of needle-like leaves form spirally on the twigs. The dark
green leaves are 12-25mm / 1/2-1-inch long with two
silvery-white bands on the underside. The Fraser fir
leaves give off an odour of turpentine. Distillation of
resin from trees like the pine produces turpentine
fluid.
Cones and
Seeds
Young slightly purple cones maturing to light brown are 3.5-7cm
/ 1.4-2.8-inches long, upright, cylindrical and resinous with
long reflexed bracts. Cones open in mid-May to early June and
ripen from September to mid-October when the mature scales fall
off the cone to release the seeds.
Commercial
Uses
With a unique and most perfect natural shape coupled with
superb fragrant dark green foliage that has a long needle
retention time, the Fraser Fir is widely grown commercially as
an excellent, highly desirable Christmas tree.
Outdoors, its attractive qualities ensure it is popular as an
ornamental and has great scenic value. Fraser Fir is of little
economic value as timber due to its limited distribution and
occurrence in inaccessible habitat and hence enjoys a
relatively long undisturbed life.
Fraser Fir Abies
Fraseri
| 