Manchurian Fir (Abies Holophylla) 10 seeds (#662)

Large in size but not as towering as many other firs grown, needle fir has rich green foliage that thickly whorls around its twigs. Becoming a tall, pyramid-like tree with spreading branches, it is native to Manchuria and Korea and extreme southeastern Siberia's (Russia). Its youngest twigs are yellow-gray in color while its smooth bark is a purplish gray to dark sandy brown that will crack into plates once the tree is very old.
The glossy medium to dark green needles are not prickly to the touch and ascend on the twigs. They are flattened and usually arranged in two horizontal rows. The male and female cones appear in mid- to late spring; female cones receive the pollen via the wind and will turn yellowish brown when ripe.
Grow needle fir in full to partial sun in a moist, cool soil that is acidic in pH. It is, however, adaptable to non-alkaline soil that is slightly dry or nutrient poor as well. Use it as a large specimen park tree that can double as a shade tree because of its spreading branches.

Genus - Abies
Species - Holophylla
Common name - Manchurian Fir
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 5 - 7
Height - 70'-100' / 21 - 31 m
Spread - 20'-30' / 6 - 9 m
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Evergreen
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Clay, Loam, Well Drained
Water requirements - Drought tolerant, average water
Landscape uses - Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Leaf / Flower color - Light Green / --

GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
A short period of cold and moist stratification (in the fridge) needed.
1. Soak the seeds in clean water for 24 hours. Fully drain away all of the water and place the seeds in a zip-lock freezer bag. Place the seeds in the fridge. Make sure the seeds during this period not dry out or are waterlogged otherwise the pre-treatment will be ineffective.
2. After 6-8 weeks of the pretreatment seeds are ready to be sown.
3. Sow in a good quality potting compost. It shoudl be sterile and clean, never used before. Firm the compost gently, water and sow the seeds on the surface. Cover the seeds lightly (~2 mm) of vermiculite or sieved compost. Keep moist and at room temperature.
4. Germination will begin in a few weeks.