Abies (fraseri)

Lee Riley Horticulturist USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center 34963 Shoreview Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541-915-7324 541-767-5709 (fax) lee.riley@usda.gov

---

Family Scientific Name:	Pinus
Family Common Name:	Pine
Scientific Name:	Abies fraseri
Common Synonym:	Pinus fraseri
Common Name:	Fraser fir
Species Code:	ABFR
General Distribution:	Native to the southern Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. Grows at high elevation in a cold, moist climate. Performs best in full sun or partial shade in rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils.
Propagation Goal:	Plants
Propagation Method:	Seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	164 ml (10 in3) container
Time To Grow:	24 weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling Root System: Firm plug in container.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags into a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) soak for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 24 hours. The bags are placed in sealed containers in refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 45 days. It is very important to check seeds weekly. If mold is evident, seeds should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse growing facility. Seeds are directly sown into containers. Seeds are lightly covered with nursery grit. Growing medium used is 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice with Apex controlled release fertilizer (16N:5P2O5:10K2O with minors; 6 to 7 month release rate at 21C) at the rate of 0.6 gram Apex per 164 ml container.
Establishment Phase:	Germination is somewhat slow and uneven, and may take up to 3 to 4 weeks to be complete. Once the majority of germination has occurred, seedlings are fertilized for 3 weeks with soluble 12-2-14-6Ca-3Mg at 75 to 100 ppm.
Length of Establishment Phase:	6 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	During the growing season, fertilization depends on weather and physiological needs. Soluble 20-9-20 NPK, 20-18-18 NPK, or 17-5-24 NPK at a range of 100 to 150 ppm is applied weekly.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	18 to 20 weeks
Hardening Phase:	No dry-down is done to induce dormancy. Seedlings are moved to an outdoor growing area in early September.
Length of Hardening Phase:	3 to 4 weeks depending on chilling hours
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Late-October Storage Conditions: Seedlings are usually outplanted in fall. No storage except in outdoor growing area. Plants are well irrigated prior to shipping and shipped in containers. Seedlings can be extracted in late December and frozen until spring outplanting.
Length of Storage:	3 to 4 months
Other Comments:	USDA Hardiness Zone 4 to 7 Wetland classification: FACU Used as ornamental yard tree and grown commercially as Christmas tree. Of conservation concern. Threatened by the exotic balsam woolly adelgid and changing climate conditions.
References:	Dorena Genetic Resource Center Propagation Records, unpublished. Missouri Botanical Garden. Abies fraseri. URL: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=284981 (accessed 16 May 2023). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. Fraser fir. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=ABFR (accessed 16 May 2023).

Citation:

Riley, Lee E.. 2024. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Abies fraseri Plants 164 ml (10 in3) container; USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center Cottage Grove, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.