Grand fir

Grand fir: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Slender, tall cone; in our region up to 40 m tall and 10 m wide, even taller in the wild.

Needles

Flat, 2–5 cm, glossy dark green with two white bands underneath, in two flat rows; they smell of oranges.

Cones

Upright, 5–10 cm, green to brown, high in the crown; they break up on the tree.

Bark

Smooth and grey with resin blisters when young, later furrowed.

Roots

Deep on good soil, but shallow on wet or compacted soil, where it can blow over in storms.

Plants: April–May and September–October

Why grow it?

• Grows exceptionally fast and soon becomes a stately tree.
• Glossy, dark green foliage with a fresh orange scent when crushed.
• Evergreen: a majestic focal point in a park or large garden, winter included.
• Tolerates some shade when young, which helps when planting among other trees.

Grand fir: where does it grow best?

• Sun to partial shade; young trees tolerate some shade.
• Deep, moist to damp soil: sand or loam, acid to neutral. It grows poorly on chalk.
• Prefers a cool, humid setting; in dry, hot places it struggles.
• Allow at least 8–10 m of space and a good distance from houses and pipes.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

40 m tall, 10 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -30 °C)

Goes well with

• Beech: A stately broadleaf whose autumn colour stands out against the dark needles.
• Rhododendron: Evergreen, flowering underplanting in the light shade at the edge.
• Birch: White trunks and light foliage as a contrast.
• Ferns: Green undergrowth on the cool, moist woodland floor.

Grand fir: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May and September–October.

1. Plant in April–May or September–October, preferably a young tree: it establishes best.
2. Dig a generous hole, loosen the bottom and mix leaf mould into the excavated soil.
3. Set the tree at the same depth as before and firm the soil well.
4. Water generously straight away, then weekly in dry spells for the first two summers.
5. Mulch around the base and, for larger trees, set a stake at an angle into the prevailing wind.

Care

Water

After planting, water in dry spells for two summers. After that, on moist soil, it looks after itself.

Mulching

A mulch of bark or leaves keeps the soil cool and moist.

Feeding

Not needed on good, moist soil.

Leader

Keep a single straight leader; remove a competing top shoot in good time.

Inspection

Have old trees near paths and buildings checked now and then for dead branches and stability.

Tip: Only plant it if you really have the space: expect a tree of 30–40 m. A young tree on moist, deep soil grows fastest and best.

Grand fir: when to prune it?

When: Pruning is not needed: it forms a regular cone naturally.

How:

• Saw off dead or broken branches just outside the branch collar at the trunk.
• Keep a single leader: remove a second top shoot on young trees.
• You can gradually remove the lowest branches to make room under the tree; they do not grow back.

Caution: It does not regrow from bare wood: never shorten branches back into the needleless zone.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow seed outdoors in autumn, or in spring after a few weeks of cold. After a slow start the seedlings grow quickly.

Grand fir: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• Hardy to about −30 °C: needs no protection in Belgium.
• Late frost can damage young shoots, especially in a cold, open spot.
• Wet snow and storms can break branches or the top; have damage to large trees repaired by a professional.

Diseases and pests

• Drought damage: Brown needles and dying tops after dry, hot summers. Choose a moist site and water young trees in dry spells.
• Adelgids: White, woolly tufts on shoots and trunk; young trees can be weakened. Hose off with water and remove affected shoots.
• Honey fungus: White fungal sheets under the bark and honey-coloured toadstools at the base; the tree dies back. Have a diseased tree removed in good time.
• Windthrow: On wet or shallow soil it forms shallow roots and can blow over in storms. Plant it on deep, well-drained soil.

Through the year

• March: Apply mulch.
• April: Planting.
• May: Planting. New shoots.
• June: Water young trees in dry spells. Check for adelgids.
• July: Water young trees in dry spells.
• August: Water in dry spells.
• September: Planting.
• October: Planting. Top up the mulch.
• November: After a storm, check for broken branches.
• December: Cut a few branches for a fragrant Christmas decoration.

Did you know?

• The Scottish plant collector David Douglas brought the first seeds to Britain around 1830.
• It is one of the tallest firs in the world: in its homeland, trees of more than 70 m have been measured.
• The orange scent of the crushed needles helps to tell it apart from other firs.