Silver fir

Profile

Family

Pinaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

50 m

Spread

14 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

600 years

First yield

after 30 years

Hardiness

zone 5–8

Shade tolerance

full shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very wet

pH

4 – 5.5

Synonyms

Tanne

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: The inner bark is boiled, dried, ground into a powder, and used as a thickener in soups or bread baking when mixed with grains.

Medicinal: The buds have antibiotic, antiseptic, and balsamic properties, while the bark is antiseptic and astringent. They can be collected throughout the year as necessary. The leaves act as an expectorant and soothe bronchial passages, ideal for harvesting in spring and drying for future use. The resin possesses various qualities such as being antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic, eupeptic, expectorant, vasoconstrictor, and aiding in wound healing. Commonly found in remedies for colds and coughs, both the leaves and resin can be ingested or used as an inhalant. In traditional medicine, they are used to address conditions like bronchitis, cystitis, leucorrhoea, ulcers, and colic. Externally, the resin is included in bath products and massage oils to alleviate rheumatic pain and neuralgia. Turpentine oil, derived from the tree's trunk, is sometimes a substitute for the leaves or resin and is known for its reddening effect when applied externally to treat neuralgia.

Other uses: An oleoresin is obtained from blister-like thickenings found in the bark, harvested during summer and utilized fresh, dried, or distilled. Commonly known as "Strasbourg turpentine," this resin serves various purposes in perfumery, medicine, and ship sealing. Turpentine oil acts as a crucial solvent in the varnish sector, while the byproduct, referred to as "rosin oil," is integral in manufacturing varnishes, paints, and soot. Extracted in spring from trees aged between 60-80 years, the resin is used for oil distillation. Essential oil derived from the leaves serves as a disinfectant and finds applications in medicine and perfumery, often included in bath products for its distinctive pine fragrance. The bark is a tannin source, and the tree's lightweight, soft, durable, and flexible wood is utilized in construction, furniture making, packaging, pulp production, and various other applications.

Growing

The silver fir thrives in moist soil, except for infertile sandy and peaty types. It grows well in heavy clay and slightly acidic soils with a pH around 5. This tree is shade-tolerant and commonly used in woodlands, although growth is slower in dense shade. It does not do well in windy areas. While the silver fir is hardy, it is vulnerable to late frost and aphids in spring. It is also prone to aphid infestations and fungal infections. Growth starts slow but accelerates after about six years, reaching heights of up to one meter per year. Ideal growing conditions for the silver fir include damp valleys in Scotland and southwest England, as well as East Anglia. This tree is cultivated for timber across northern and western Europe and is popular as a Christmas tree. It shows high resistance to root rot. Planting the trees when they are small, ideally between 30 and 90 cm tall, is recommended. Larger trees should be pruned heavily as they grow little in the following years. The silver fir can also resprout from the stump. This tree can hybridize with other species within its genus. The 'Pendula' cultivar was once widely planted for various purposes but has become rare due to damage from the Nordmann fir aphid. Efforts are ongoing to develop resistant varieties.

Propagation

Aussaat – Anfang Februar im Gewächshaus oder im März im Freien. Die Keimung verläuft oft ungleichmäßig und dauert in der Regel 6–8 Wochen. Eine Stratifizierung soll die Keimung verbessern, daher empfiehlt es sich, die Samen im Herbst, sobald sie reif sind, im Frühbeet auszusäen. Bei guter Lagerung bleiben die Samen bis zu 5 Jahre keimfähig. Sobald die Sämlinge groß genug sind, werden sie in einzelne Töpfe pikiert und mindestens den ersten Winter im Topf weiterkultiviert. Im späten Frühjahr oder frühen Sommer, nach den letzten Frösten, werden sie an ihren endgültigen Standort gepflanzt. Alternativ kann bei ausreichend Saatgut auch direkt im Freiland ausgesät werden. Eine Quelle empfiehlt die Anzucht im Schatten mit einer Dichte von etwa 550 Pflanzen pro Quadratmeter, während eine andere Quelle einen sonnigen Standort bevorzugt.

Notable

Special features: prefers cool, moist climates protected from late frosts, initially grows slowly in the shade; later, rapid growth; roots 10m deep; after 60 years, the resin harvest begins. Very popular with game! Sensitive to air pollution; honeydew for bees; ~1.6% of German forests; 1400kWh/m²; 4.4kWh/kg

Origin & habitat

South-Central Europe

Better soils are found in hedges and forests, particularly in beech forests.

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