The range of the silver fir is montane, with the exception of some areas in Normandy and in Poland. The silver fir is found on the main mountain groups of Europe: the Pyrenees, the French Massif Central, the Alps, the Vosges, the Dinaric Alps and the Carpathians.
In the central-southern Apennines, significant stands are found in Tuscany (where it was long cultivated on monastic or grand-ducal estates), the Teramo Apennines and the Gran Sasso, the Molise Apennines, the Pollino and the Calabrian Apennines.
So as not to confuse it with the other species, read the fact sheet on the Norway spruce (abete rosso or peccio).
Fact sheet
- Range and distribution
- The range of the silver fir is montane, with the exception of some areas in Normandy and in Poland. The silver fir is found on the main mountain groups of Europe: the Pyrenees, the French Massif Central, the Alps, the Vosges, the Dinaric Alps and the Carpathians. To the south it extends along the Apennines (with a discontinuous range) as far as the Aspromonte and Corsica. In the Italian Alps its presence is sporadic and mixed with beech and Norway spruce. The exceptions are the Carnic Alps, Trentino, the Altopiano di Asiago and the Cadore, where its presence becomes more significant. In the Apennines it is found in a more fragmented way. In the central-southern Apennines, significant stands are found in Tuscany (where it was long cultivated on monastic or grand-ducal estates), the Teramo Apennines and the Gran Sasso, the Molise Apennines, the Pollino and the Calabrian Apennines.
- Ecology
The silver fir withstands extreme minimum temperatures just like the Norway spruce, but its need for summer warmth and its great sensitivity to physiological drought prevent it from spreading into the alpine belt. The species is little affected by spring frosts, but very sensitive to excessive atmospheric humidity, which favours parasites. It likes deep, moist soils. The root system is deep and suited to getting through dry periods. However, in a drought crisis the damage is made worse by the presence of parasites. It is a very shade-tolerant species in its young stage. This allows it to survive in mixed stands and to compete with other species. The silver fir cannot form natural pure stands because it cannot regenerate in its own humus.
- Habit
The tree has the shape of a narrow cone. Depending on the site, it can reach a height of 40 - 60 m.
- Leaves
The leaves are linear, short (about 3 cm), glossy dark green on the upper side, while the underside has two whitish stripes. The tips of the leaves are bifid. They are arranged on the two sides of the twig.
- Flowers and fruit
The cones are 10 to 20 cm long, erect, first green then orange-brown, with protruding bracts and fan-shaped scales. When ripe they break up and only the central axis remains on the tree.
- Bark
Smooth, sleek and grey, it tends to crack into small plates with age.
- Uses
- In Italian it is also known as abete d'argento (silver fir) and it is used as a Christmas tree in some parts of Europe. Its timber has been used since Roman times to build oars and ships' masts. The over-exploitation of this species has led to it becoming progressively rarer. Today efforts are being made to reintroduce it together with beech. The timber is light and soft and has a wide range of uses.