Subalpine Fir Argentea

Synonyms: mountain fir Argentea, rough-fruited fir Argentea, Abies lasiocarpa Argentea

Subalpine Fir Argentea – one of the most beautiful cultivars of the subalpine fir. The cultivar originates from the western regions of the USA. In 1901 it was brought to Germany by the traveler and botanical garden inspector in Darmstadt, Joseph Anton Purpus (Joseph Anton Purpus).

It is a compact tree 4-5 (8-15) m in height and 2 m in diameter. It grows fairly fast, 10-12 cm per year. The scaffold branches are thick, long, strongly branched, arising from the trunk at a sharp angle, growing outward and upward. In youth the shoots develop unevenly, so the crown is asymmetric; in more mature specimens it becomes dense, very compact, symmetrical, pyramidal or broadly pyramidal. The bark is gray, smooth, with small fissures. Young shoots are ash-blue in color.

Foliage slightly falcate, very long, 1.5 mm wide and 40 mm long, not prickly, attached to the shoot almost at a right angle, fluffy, soft, silvery-gray with a slight greenish tint. Retained on the tree for 9 years.

Cones are elongate-elliptic in shape, very decorative, reddish-violet in color, grow vertically upright, turning brown by autumn.

Hardiness zone: 5a. Young plants require winter protection.

Location: does not like strong winds. Prefers moist conditions but does not tolerate waterlogging. Planting is recommended in sunny, sheltered-from-wind locations. Not demanding regarding soil, but grows well in fertile, light, well-drained soil. Performs poorly on heavy clays.

Diseases and pests: resistance to diseases and pests is high.

Planting: for avenue plantings the recommended spacing is 4-5 m, in loose groups – 3-3.5 m, in denser plantings – 2.5 m. Planting pit size – 60x60x60 cm. Root collar at ground level. Recommended soil mixture: leaf mold or humus, clay, sand, peat in a ratio of 3:2:1:1. On heavy soils drainage is mandatory – 20 cm of crushed brick or crushed stone. At planting you can add mineral fertilizer – nitroammophoska 250-300 g per hole and 10 kg of sawdust.

Care: in the 2nd-3rd year after planting it is recommended to apply Kemira-Universal in spring (150 g/sq.m). Watering is carried out 2-3 times per season with 15-20 L per tree. In dry periods sprinkling irrigation is recommended once a week. Loosening and mulching are performed to a depth of 25-30 cm. Mulch the root circle with wood chips, sawdust or peat in a layer of 5-8 cm.

Pruning: Sanitary pruning is carried out in early spring before sap flow. In youth light formative pruning may be performed by removing shoots damaged by late spring frosts at the end of May.

Uses: used in solitary and group plantings, for floral compositions, and also as a Christmas tree. The foliage emits phytoncides.