European Silver Fir Tree (Abies Alba)

European Silver Fir (Abies alba) is among the tallest conifer trees in Europe, a hardy and cold resistant fir tree native to mountain ranges stretching from the Pyrenees to the Alps, Carpathians and Balkans. European Silver Fir grows best in moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil in full sun, though it also tolerates semi shade and can survive slow growth in deeper shade while waiting for a gap in the canopy. Growth is slow in the first few years after germination but speeds up considerably afterwards, with favourable sites seeing height increases of a metre or more annually. Left to mature, European Silver Fir can reach up to 50 metres in height, and its strong, lightweight timber is valued for plywood, furniture and other uses.

Best suited to sheltered sites, European Silver Fir cannot tolerate strong wind exposure or air pollution, so sheltered, north facing slopes suit this conifer tree well.

Requiring no pruning and producing biodegradable needle litter, European Silver Fir is a low maintenance choice among fir trees for woodland and forestry planting.