Subalpine Fir 'Compacta'

Synonyms: mountain fir 'Compacta', rough-fruited fir 'Compacta', Abies lasiocarpa 'Compacta'

Subalpine Fir 'Compacta' – a dwarf cultivar of subalpine fir. Raised from seed in 1879 in the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in a suburb of Boston (Massachusetts, USA). One of the best forms of dwarf fir.

It is a dwarf tree reaching 2-3 m in height. Growth up to 3-5 cm per year. At 30 years it reaches 3 m in height. Branches short, stiff, dense, directed upwards. Crown dense, broad, conical or keg-shaped. Bark silvery-gray, smooth, in old trees - Young shoots ash-gray in color, with short rusty pubescence. Buds almost spherical, resinous.

Needles very dense, sickle-shaped, silvery-blue in color, with white stomatal lines beneath, silvery when emerging, not prickly, up to 3 cm long.

Cones elongated-elliptical in shape, slightly compressed at the apex, erect, grouped in several, reaching 6-10 cm in length and 3.5-4 cm in width, immature reddish in color. Seeds conical in shape with a similar wing, shiny but darker in color. Ripen in August-September.

Hardiness zone: 5a

Location: Grows well on fertile, moderately moist and well-drained soil. Tolerates short-term waterlogging. May be damaged by early spring frosts. Has a crown resistant to snow loads.

Pests and diseases: Resistance to pests is high.

Uses: Looks good in solitary and group plantings, in alleys, parks, heather and rock gardens. Combines well with junipers, ornamental grasses, Euonymus 'Compactus', willow, spruce, sea buckthorn, oleaster (Elaeagnus), Amur maple, boxwoods, tulips, catmint, Camassia, Perovskia (Russian sage), with forget-me-nots, Hakonechloa and spring vetchling. Also used as a Christmas tree.