About
Abies delavayi is a tall, conical evergreen tree that can grow as high as 25 meters at maturity. The young branches exhibit a reddish hue and a smooth texture, transitioning to a darker shade in their second or third year. The new buds are small, round, and resinous. The foliage is arranged in several overlapping ranks, providing a radial cover over the shoots. Needles are glossy and dark green on the upper surface, featuring two lines of stomata on the underside. They typically measure up to 3 cm in length and 2.5 mm in width, often displaying a curved or 'S' shape with flattened tips. The seed cones are ovoid, reaching lengths of up to 8 cm and widths of 4 cm, starting off as dark indigo-blue before maturing to a black color.
About the genus
Abies are evergreen coniferous trees that can reach significant heights. They feature whorled branches that support narrow, flattened leaves, typically having a whitish underside. The upper branches produce substantial cones that disintegrate while still attached to the tree.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conifers, Trees
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- Higher than 12 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows best in deep, slightly acidic, moist but well-drained soils. New developing shoots and cones are sensitive to late frosts. It is best grown in areas with moist climate and abundant rainfall. See conifer cultivation
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or by grafting.
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to adelgids and aphids
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free, but may be susceptible to honey fungus