Nordmann fir - Department of Horticulture - Michigan State University

volume 2 | number 4 fall 2007survival of live christmas treesprofile: nordmann fir

This Pot-in-Pot nursery in Denmark produces 90,000 to 100,000container-grown Nordmann fir each year.Showing the flag. Nordmann fir are marketed in Europe underthe “Original Nordmann” label.Christmas Tree Species Profile: Nordmann firAbies nordmannianaBy: Bert Cregg, Ph.D. Michigan State University, Department of Horticulture and Department of ForestryPhotos by Rick Bates, Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University, Department of HorticultureOne of the great things about working with Christmas trees is that we get to workwith some beautiful and fascinating plants. Over the years, many species of pines,spruces, firs, and even cedars have been used as Christmas trees. Each species hasits unique appeal and every species has a story. Beginning with this issue of theGreat Lake Christmas Tree Journal, I will present profiles of interesting Christmas treespecies used in the Great Lakes region and elsewhere. I’ll discuss the basic biology andecology of the species, highlight some of the advantages or concerns of the speciesfor Christmas tree production, and throw in a little trivia or other titillating tidbits.Nordmann fir Abies nordmannianaBeauty, as they say, is in the eye of thebeholder, but few can argue thatNordmann fir is among the most beautifulconifers found anywhere. Evenfamed plantsman Michael Dirr, who isnot given to feint praise, calls Nordmannfir,“stately, elegant, perhaps the handsomestof the firs.” Nordmann fir is by farthe most popular Christmas tree speciesin Europe and there is increased interestin the species in the United States. Thepopularity of this species is due to severalfactors. First and foremost are theglossy, dark green needles, which aredarker than almost any fir except forgrand fir (Abies grandis). Nordmann firneedles are directed forward giving the13

nordmann firfall 2007 great lakes christmas tree journalNordmann fir is a vigorousgrower under plantationconditions. Europeancustomers, however, donot like sheared trees sogrowers rely on plantgrowth retardants orphloem-wounding toolsto control leader growth.14upper surface of the branches a brushed,smooth appearance. There are two distinctwhite bands of stomata on theunderside of the needles, which producesa silvery effect when the undersidesof the branches are visible. But theneedles are just part of the species’appeal. Nordmann fir has outstandingsymmetrical form and a relatively openbranch structure with distinct whorls.These traits are valued in the EuropeanChristmas tree market where a layeredappearance and room for candles aredesired. Nordmann fir is a vigorousgrower under plantation conditions.European customers, however, do notlike sheared trees so growers rely onplant growth retardants or phloemwoundingtools to control leader growth.Extensive research on the genetics ofNordmann fir has been conducted inDenmark and the Danes have typicallyfavored the Ambrolauria seed source.However, tree improvement testing forU.S. environmental conditions and culturalpractices is probably warranted.North Carolina State University geneticistJohn Frampton notes:“Ambrolauria has been widely toutedas the best source of Nordmann fir in theUnited States, however, most AmericansNordmann fir are marketed as 3–4’ living Christmas trees in Denmark.do not realize that this is based on theEuropean preference for slow growth. Inreality, other faster growing Nordmann firsources are likely to be preferable for cultureunder an American shearingregime”. American Christmas TreeJournal 43 (2): 4–11.In its native range, Nordmann occurson calcareous soils and therefore maytolerate a wider range of pH than otherfirs. Like most firs, however, Nordmannfir needs adequate drainage for bestcontinued on page 32

nordmann firfall 2007 great lakes christmas tree journalcontinued from page 14growth. Various sources list Nordmann firas hardy from zones 4–6 or 4–7. In eithercase, it is well adapted in most of lowerMichigan. In the exotic fir species trialinitiated by Dr. Mel Koelling at KelloggForest near Battle Creek, Nordmann firhas grown well. In addition, theNordmann fir trees we transplanted fromKellogg Forest in 2003 continue to dowell at our Horticulture ResearchStations in East Lansing, Clarksville, andTraverse City. This broad adaptability suggeststhat Nordmann fir has significantpotential as a Christmas tree species inmuch of Michigan. Nordmann fir alsoresponds well in container production.During the 8th international ChristmasTree Research and Extension Conferencein Denmark (see related article in thisissue of Great lakes Christmas TreeJournal), conference participants touredGl. Kirstineberg Planteskole, Europe’sleading producer of container-grownNordmann fir. The nursery producesapproximately 100,000 three- to four-foottall Nordmann firs as living Christmastrees each year. The trees are grown inthree-gallon containers in a Pot-in-Pot systemfor up to four years to reach marketablesize. The Kirstineberg nursery hasworked extensively on their packaging,marketing trees to retail garden centersand as business gifts via direct shipping.Fast Facts on Nordmann fir:Native range: The native range ofNordmann fir forms a crescent along theeast end of the Black sea in the mountainsof Turkey, Georgia and RussianCaucauses. It occurs at elevationsbetween 3000 and 7000 feet in areaswith rainfall in excess of 40" per year.Related species: The taxonomy of theMediterranean firs is muddled due inpart to wide variation within speciesand also hybridization among species.Turkish fir and Trojan fir are closelyrelated to Nordmann fir and are sometimeslisted as separate species (AbiesNordmann fir (on left) is also an outstanding ornamental tree as shown by this specimenat the MSU Plant and Soil Sciences building. Photo: Bert Cregg.32

nordmann firfall 2007great lakes christmas tree journalMarketing makes it happen. Danish growerswork to establish a brand identify forNordmann fir.bornmülleriana and A. equi-trojani,respectively) or as sub-species or varietiesof Abies nordmanniana.Ornamental cultivars: Nordmann fir isan outstanding landscape ornamental asa straight species. In addition, theAmerican Conifer Society’s ConiferDatabase (www.conifersociety.org) lists14 named cultivars of A. nordmanniana,a handful of which are available fromspecialty nurseries. ‘Golden spreader’ is adwarf, spreading form with bright goldfoliage. ‘Tortifolia’ is a conical, intermediategrower (6–12" per year) withupturned needles. ‘Prostrata’ is a prostrate,ground covering form with darkgreen needles.FraserCanaanDouglasConcolorGrandKoreanNobleNordmanTransplantsFir Spruce PineColorado BlueWhiteMeyerSerbianNorwayOrientalWhiteAsk about ourLarge “Power Plug”TransplantsOver 30 Years Nursery ExperienceSource-Identified Seed Containerized & Bareroot262 Wylie School Road, Voluntown, CT 06384860-376-2351 800-508-5099 Fax: 860-376-8963www.treeman2.com35