Abies alba Mill. European Silver Fir or Common Silver Fir
Native to central European mountains 800-l800m (2600-6000ft) altitude. Cultivated for timber but easily damaged by early frosts and greenfly attack. Grows slowly for first 6 years, then rapidly, gaining as much as 1m (3ft) in a year, to a height of 45m (150ft) and girth of 5m (18ft). Male flowers are grouped below previous years growth, shedding pollen in April. Females are green at first, developing into cones 12cm x 3cm (4½in x 1½in) red-brown when ripe with down curved toothed bracts. Needles are white backed and notched at the tip. Bark is dark greyish and cracked into small square plates on old trees. Z4.