Great Plant Pick: Blue Spanish fir

  • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 1:30am
  • Life
In early spring, the branch tips of Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ are covered with small, violet-red pollen cones. (Richie Steffen)

In early spring, the branch tips of Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ are covered with small, violet-red pollen cones. (Richie Steffen)

What: Blue Spanish fir is a stately and majestic evergreen that draws attention with its graceful-yet-rigid layered branches, narrow conical shape and unusually stiff, intensely colored powder-blue short needles. The non-prickly needles are arranged radially around the branchlets, which creates an interesting texture and is enticing to the touch. In early spring, the branch tips are covered with surprisingly beautiful, small violet-red pollen cones, which are especially attractive against the blue foliage.

Where: Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ performs best in full sun with well-drained soil. The slow growth and disease resistance of this fir make it an excellent selection for urban plantings.

Size: Fifteen feet tall by 7 feet wide in 10 years.

Care: Once established, it is drought tolerant and heat tolerant. It has no serious pest or disease problems. It is quite slow growing, but will eventually become a lovely, graceful tree. Only prune broken or damaged branches and provide enough space for it to fully develop over the years.

— greatplantpicks.org

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