Nordmann fir - Department of Horticulture - Michigan State University
Nordmann fir - Department of Horticulture - Michigan State University
Nordmann fir - Department of Horticulture - Michigan State University
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nordmann <strong>fir</strong>fall 2007 great lakes christmas tree journalcontinued from page 14growth. Various sources list <strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong>as hardy from zones 4–6 or 4–7. In eithercase, it is well adapted in most <strong>of</strong> lower<strong>Michigan</strong>. In the exotic <strong>fir</strong> species trialinitiated by Dr. Mel Koelling at KelloggForest near Battle Creek, <strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong>has grown well. In addition, the<strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong> trees we transplanted fromKellogg Forest in 2003 continue to dowell at our <strong>Horticulture</strong> ResearchStations in East Lansing, Clarksville, andTraverse City. This broad adaptability suggeststhat <strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong> has significantpotential as a Christmas tree species inmuch <strong>of</strong> <strong>Michigan</strong>. <strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong> alsoresponds well in container production.During the 8th international ChristmasTree Research and Extension Conferencein Denmark (see related article in thisissue <strong>of</strong> Great lakes Christmas TreeJournal), conference participants touredGl. Kirstineberg Planteskole, Europe’sleading producer <strong>of</strong> container-grown<strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong>. The nursery producesapproximately 100,000 three- to four-foottall <strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong>s 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 <strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong>:Native range: The native range <strong>of</strong><strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong> forms a crescent along theeast end <strong>of</strong> the Black sea in the mountains<strong>of</strong> Turkey, Georgia and RussianCaucauses. It occurs at elevationsbetween 3000 and 7000 feet in areaswith rainfall in excess <strong>of</strong> 40" per year.Related species: The taxonomy <strong>of</strong> theMediterranean <strong>fir</strong>s is muddled due inpart to wide variation within speciesand also hybridization among species.Turkish <strong>fir</strong> and Trojan <strong>fir</strong> are closelyrelated to <strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong> and are sometimeslisted as separate species (Abies<strong>Nordmann</strong> <strong>fir</strong> (on left) is also an outstanding ornamental tree as shown by this specimenat the MSU Plant and Soil Sciences building. Photo: Bert Cregg.32
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