Japanese Garden Plants
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|Japanese Name:||momi |
|English Name:||Japanese Fir |
|Latin Name:||Abies firma |
|Sub Type:||EVERGREEN |
|Native Habitat:||mountain side |
|Light:||shady or sunny site |
|Flower Color:|| |
|Bloom Time:|| |
|Height:||30 m |
|Last Updated:||5/21/2000 |
Japanese Fir, Momi Fir
Abies firma (Pinaceae)
This monoecious conifer can grow up to 150 feet in the wild, though it rarely reaches that height under cultivation. It has a fine pyramidal form that rarely needs pruning though the lower branches can become disorderly as they die on an older tree. It's flat needles vary from green to blue-green.
It is a very hardy tree in cold climates, but is otherwise not resistant to other environmental factors such as heat, dryness or pollution. It is tough to get established and ball-n-burlap transplantation in early spring is the best bet. It does best in well-drained, acid soil that is course or even rocky. Keep it moist.
Because of its size, this tree must be used with care in a small space and is most appropriate in a large garden or park. It is occasionally cultivated as a bonsai.
Abies homolepis (Nikko Fir) - stiff, horizontal branches
Abies mariesii (Maries Fir) - native to mountainous regions; upper branches ascend while lower branches descend; purple cones, bluish needles and gray bark provide nice color combination.
For further reference:
Japanese Garden Society of Oregon. Oriental Gardening. New York: Pantheon Books, 1996, pp. 42.
Kitamura, Fumio and Ishizu Yurio. Garden Plants in Japan. Tokyo: Kokusai Bunka Shinkokai, 1963, p. 26.