Botanical/Latin Name: Abies Alba
Family: Pinaceae
Other Names: Weisstanne (German), Silbertanne (German), Edeltanne (German)

In the Northern parts of the world there are about 40 tree species that have an importance in forestry. Silver Fir is one of these important species. It came to central Europe when the last ice age was over (3000-2500 BC). Today, Silver Fir can be found first of all in the Black Forest, but also in "Vogesen", Jura, in the "Schwäbisch-Fränkischer Forest", in the south of Bavaria, in parts of Austria (Vorarlberg) und and Switzerland.

The evergreen coniferous tree species can produce seeds at the age of 50 years. From that age onwards, it produces a large number of seeds every 6 to 10 years. When it is young, Silver Fir is very shade tolerant. If it does not receive much light, it slows down its growth, especially the growth in height. It can survive for decades (even 150 years!) in the shade of other trees. If one of the old neighbour trees is harvested or dies, the small tree receives a lot of light immediately. Then, it can react quickly and grow fast in height and in diametre. This aspect characterizes Silver Fir and makes it an indispensable tree species in a selection forest. A selection forest is defined as a forest that includes trees of all dimensions on a small area. Tall and small trees, thin and fat dimensions create a diverse structure. Harvesting takes place on a small scale. Only individual trees are chosen and taken out of the forest to make room for the next generation. It is important to realize harvesting activities often and regularly, but only in a careful way to keep the right proportion between different tree dimensions. This is the only way to keep the selection forest alive. If there is no harvesting activity for a long time, the structure of the selection forest is destroyed because the dominant trees become too strong and kill the understory by their shade.

Silver Fir is one of our tallest and most beautiful trees. That is underlined by the German word "Edeltanne". It means "Noble Fir" in English. If Silver Fir grows on a good site including optimal climatic and soil conditions, the result is precious and branchless lumber. Silver Fir can even produce more and better quality lumber than Norway Spruce if the conditions are optimal.

Silver Fir reacts in a very sensitive way if climate changes or if the air is polluted. No other tree species in our forests is as sensitive as Silver fir! Another problem is caused by browsing animals. They love especially young Silver Firs. If the number of deer in a region is too high, the forest can not regenerate itself in a natural way. That is the reason why the number of browsing animals should be reduces in the critical phase of regeneration.

As Silver Fir is also easily affected by frost damage in spring, it delays its growth. That is why Silver Firs do not start to grow before the end of May. At this time of the year, the risk of frost damage is very low.

The roots of Silver Fir are very strong and reach down very deep into the soil. There are only few tree species that can go down even deeper. This way, Silver Fir can also grow under problematic soil conditions. A 100 years old tree has more than 270 metres of roots (total length)! Neighbour trees combine their root systems and so create great stability.

Silver Fir usually forms mixed stands in combination with Beech and/or Norway Spruce in mountainous parts of central Europe. In some rather rare cases, there are also stands without any other tree species.

Today, all the advantages of this important tree species and of her lumber are rediscovered. Silver Firs guarantee stable, healthy, ecological precious and attractive forests.

Silver Fir or Norway Spruce?

It is easy to recognize a Silver Fir in the forest if you have a look at the crown: The picture shows the difference between the crowns of Norway Spruce and Silver Fir. Norway Spruce has a rather sharp and spiky top crown. In contrast to this, Silver Fir develops a "stork nest", that means that it looks like the peak of the crown is missing or very blunt or clinched.
Norway Spruce has cones (up to 16 cm long) that are always hanging down, Silver Fir cones are always standing on branches only in the top of the crown. Silver Fir cones on the tree look like candles on a candelabrum. These are some major differences between the two species. In addition to that, Silver Fir cones disintegrate on the tree and do not fall down. That is why almost all cones that you can find on the ground in a forest are Norway Spruce cones.

Needles show many differences, too. Silver Fir needles are flat, shiny and of a dark green colour. On their bottom side they are characterized by two recognizable white stripes. In contrast to Norway Spruce Silver Fir needles seem to be very soft when they are touched. They can also get quite old: Silver Fir needles usually live for 10 years or even 14 years in the high mountains. No other coniferous tree in Central Europe can overexceed Silver Fir in this point. In addition to that, White Fir needles smell very nice.

By the way, the expression "Silver Fir" refers to the rather light white and grey bark that is very smooth if the tree is young. Later it gets small cracks and a more scaly structure. Norway Spruce bark shows a very different dark red and brown tone.