Leaf
Franz Xaver, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 3.0, GFDL
Nordmann fir
Abies nordmanniana (Steven) Spach
Also known as: Caucasian fir
Family: Pinaceae
25 to 40 m tall when mature
Planted singly or in small groups in parks; the species most sold as a Christmas tree in France
Flowering: May (flowering barely visible)
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to about -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its soft, non-prickly foliage, unlike that of the Norway spruce, has made it the French people's favourite Christmas tree since the 1990s.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, flat, soft, glossy green needles, arranged in a comb-like fashion, not prickly
🌸 Flowers
Separate male and female cones, barely visible, borne high up
🍎 Fruits
Erect green-brown cones, disintegrating on the tree at maturity as in all firs
🪵 Bark
Grey, smooth on young trees, becoming fissured with age
🗺️ Distribution
Native to the Caucasus and north-eastern Turkey
🐝 Value for pollinators
Wind-pollinated by cones, of little interest to pollinators.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Has become the best-selling Christmas tree in France thanks to its soft, non-prickly needles and good needle retention
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity
🌿 Other Pinaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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