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, Abies Fraseri, 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
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