About
Abies kawakamii is an upright, evergreen conifer that can attain heights of 15 meters under ideal growth conditions. Young specimens exhibit grey bark that transitions to a grayish-brown with scale-like texture as they mature. The tree features short, linear needles measuring 10 to 15 millimeters, which are rounded at the tips and arranged densely along the branchlets. These needles are dark green and have distinctive white lines on the tips and undersides. The vegetative buds are egg-shaped, approximately 5 millimeters long, and are notably resinous. The pollen cones are yellowish and can grow up to 1 centimeter in length. Seed cones start off dark blue, reaching dimensions of up to 9 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide, and transition in color from bluish-purple to purplish-brown as they mature.
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
- H7
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
- Native to
- Taiwan
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows best in deep, slightly acidic, moist but well-drained soils in cooler climates. This species comes from high montane forests of Taiwan, and performs best in areas with high humidity and rainfall. See conifer cultivation
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to adelgids and aphids
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus but generally disease-free