Fraser fir is an evergreen conifer tree named after the Scottish botanist, John Fraser (1780–1810).This conical spruce is extremely popular during the Christmas season. Apart from its timber and pulp, it is used as a Christmas tree because of its distinctive, symmetrical shape.Even though the Balsam fir is the most popular Christmas tree because of its soothing fragrance, Fraser fir is also ahead of the game with its strong stems, long needles, and outstanding shipping characteristics. A fresh-cut Fraser fir lasts around four to five weeks if maintained properly, which is perfect to last through the month of Christmas. The soft needles maintain their texture even after the tree is cut, so decorating this tree is easy and free of needle pricks. Fraser fir has been a more popular choice of White House Christmas tree than any other Christmas spruce. Classification Of Fraser Fir TreesFir trees belong to the genus Abies that includes 45 species: Silver fir, Sicilian fir, Bulgarian fir, Greek fir, Caucasian fir or Nordmann fir, Spanish fir, Algerian fir, Syrian fir, Fraser fir, Balsam fir, Subalpine fir, Siberian fir, Sakhalin fir, Korean fir, Khinghan fir, Veitch’s fir, giant fir or grand fir, white fir, Durango fir, Jalisco fir, Guatemalan fir, Taiwan fir, Nikko fir, Min fir, Momi fir, Baishanzu fir, Manchurian fir, Shensi fir, Pindrow fir, Ziyuan fir, Pacific silver fir, Maries’ fir, Delavay’s fir, Faber’s fir, Forrest’s fir, Bhutan fir, East Himalayan fir, Farges’ fir, Fanjingshan fir, Flaky fir, Red fir, Noble fir, Bristlecone fir, Hickel’s fir and, Sacred fir. Fraser firs belong to the family of green firs that have dark green needles. Southern balsam fir is also one of the popular green firs.This tree was initially considered to be a subspecies of Balsam fir, which actually is another species of Abies, making it close kin of Fraser fir. Abies fraseri is the scientific name of this tree, anointed after botanist John Fraser who made countless botanical collections of this tree. The phonetic spelling of the scientific name is ‘AY-bees FRAY-zer-eye’. It is often misspelled as ‘Frazer,’ ‘Frazier,’ or ‘Frasier.’ The classification of Fraser fir is as follows:Kingdom: PlantaeClade: TracheophytesSuperdivision: GymnospermsDivision: PinophytaClass: PinopsidaOrder: PinalesFamily: PinaceaeGenus: AbiesSpecies: Abies fraseriHabitat Of Fraser Fir TreesAreas with an annual rainfall of a minimum of 75 in (190 cm) are ideal for fir trees to grow. They often share habitats with red spruce. Cool, moist climates with short, chilly summers and winters with heavy snowfall are preferred for the proper growth of the Fraser fir. However, these trees don’t grow well on streets in snowy areas as they can not endure salt damage. The hardiness zone (USDA) is 4-7, and the tree is partially shade-tolerant.To plant and grow this tree, the soil needs moisture and fertilizer. During drier seasons, watering is important as dry soil restricts the growth of the tree. Rich, sandy, acidic soil doesn’t require fertilizer. A thick layer of around 2 in (5 cm) mulch during summer and springtime helps the soil retain its moisture and prevents weeds from growing. Getting rid of weeds, especially around the tree’s root area, is important as they consume nutrients and moisture. To maintain the tree’s pyramid shape, the branches need careful trimming. The main destroyer of these trees are insects like the balsam woolly adelgid, bark beetles, and spruce budworms. Infections by balsam woolly adelgids restrict the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. From 1950-1980, millions of Fraser firs have died of this infection. Fungal diseases like root rots and needle rusts also affect the Fraser fir. This endangered species of fir houses many rare species of floras, like mountain ash and rock gnome lichen, and fauna like the spruce-fir moss spider, northern flying squirrel, and Weller’s salamander. Characteristics Of Fraser Fir TreesFraser firs are narrow, pyramidal, non-flowering trees. They grow up to 30-50 ft (10-15 m) tall with a conical crown. An average 6-7 ft (1.8-2 m) Fraser fir tree weighs around 50 lb (22.6 kg). The trunk is 16–20 in (40–50 cm) in diameter with either horizontal or 40A° upward angled branches and grayish-brown bark. The tree’s bark is smooth, thin, and covered in resinous blisters.The twigs display spirally arranged needle-like leaves that are twisted at the base forming two rows on each twig. The flat, stretchy leaves have rounded tips, and they are 0.3–0.9 in (10–23 mm) long and 0.07-0.08 in (2–2.2 mm) broad. Dark green in color, the leaves have a pleasant scent. The cones of these trees are cylindrical, resinous, and dark purple in color. Male and female, both cones appear on the same tree. They are covered with long yellow, green, or light purple bract scales and are 1.3-2.7 in (3.5–7 cm) long and 0.9-1.1 in (2.5–3 cm) broad. When the cones mature, the color changes to pale brown, and after 4-6 months, they slowly start to decay and release the winged seeds underneath the scales. Female cones grow on the top part of the crown, and male cones grow below them. Young trees have to be at least 15 years old to produce seeds.Distribution Of Fraser Fir TreesFraser fir grows in hill areas of the southeastern Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia, eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina. They are found on 3,900-6,684 ft (1,200-2,037 m) above sea level in six separate populations.Because of its pyramidal form, pleasant fragrance, and dark blue-green color, it is one of the most popular Christmas trees. Fraser fir Christmas trees are grown commercially in bulk in North Carolina. Growing a 6-7 ft (1.8–2.1 m) tall tree takes around seven to ten years. In 2005, this tree was declared the official Christmas tree of North Carolina. In the southern Appalachians, the Christmas ornamentation trade is a multimillion-dollar industry. In adjoining parts of Quebec, the Canadian province, and many northern states of the USA, Fraser fir is farmed for Christmas tree business. In the United Kingdom, this tree is grown in the Bedgebury National Pinetum.
Fraser fir is an evergreen conifer tree named after the Scottish botanist, John Fraser (1780–1810).
