European Silver Fir (Abies alba)

European Silver Fir grows best in moist well drained, slightly acidic soils in full sun, it can grow up to 50m high. 

The European Silver Fir is among the conifers that grow the tallest in Europe. Its natural habitat is the European mountain range that stretches from the Pyrenees to the Alps, the Carpathians, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and south to northern Serbia and southern Italy.

It grows quickly, is resistant to cold, and may be planted in a variety of soil types with the exception of those with an alkaline pH. It grows happily in hard clay and likes damp soil.

It thrives when planted in an open, sunny spot, but it can also tolerate semi-shadow and even slowly grow in deep shade in dense forests while it waits for a canopy opening to let in enough light for healthy development.

Plant it in protected spots on slopes facing north, as it cannot withstand wind exposure or air pollution. The honey fungus poses no threat to this species.

Similar to the majority of true fir species, growth is sluggish during the first few years after germination, but it quickly picks up speed after that point. On favourable locations, growth can increase height by one metre or more annually.

It is most significant fir species in Europe in terms of ecology and economy is the silver fir. For more than a millennium, people have been in charge of it. Its robust, lightweight wood is used to make plywood, pulpwood, furniture, and other materials and is decay-resistant.

Tree Attributes

• Can grow on deep soils over limestone and other calcareous substrates
• Not suited to planting on open or exposed sites
• No pruning required
• Produces biodegradable needle litter