Non-Drop Christmas Tree Saplings

At a Glance

• Use: Specimen tree, tall screening
• Not suitable for clipped hedging
• Height: Up to 60m
• Growth: Slow to medium. Straight trunk, perfect Christmas tree shape
• Soil: Deep, moist, well-drained
• Light: Full sun
• Type: Large evergreen conifer
• Species: Abies nordmanniana
• Bareroot Delivery: Nov-March Only
• Pot grown Delivery: Year-round

Appearance, Growth & Uses

Nordmann Fir is a magnificent evergreen conifer that develops into an impressive specimen tree with a distinctive straight trunk and perfect Christmas tree silhouette.
This majestic tree reaches up to 60 metres in ideal conditions, but is quite slow growing.

The dense, glossy, dark green needles create an attractive layered appearance on the symmetrical branches, maintaining an elegant architectural presence.

It maintains its classic conical form throughout its life. The bark becomes attractively furrowed with age, and the overall form remains impressively columnar and neat.

It excels as a tall screening tree, providing year-round privacy and wind protection, although it is not recommended as a frontline windbreak tree in very exposed areas.

Browse other large garden trees, other conifers, or our full range of trees.

Growing Conditions

• Soil: Deep, well-drained soils
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Moisture: Tolerates various moisture levels once established
• Avoid: Waterlogged or very dry soils, urban pollution
• Maintenance: Minimal once established
• Hardiness: Very hardy, reasonably wind resistant

Nordmann Fir thrives in deep, well-drained soils, preferring a moist, acidic site.

It won't grow on shallow chalk, but should tolerate mildly alkaline soils.

It is not suitable for dry sites or polluted urban areas.

Young trees are shade-tolerant, but want to grow up into the sun reasonably quickly.

Garden Design Ideas

Use Nordmann Fir as a magnificent specimen tree in large gardens where its full height and perfect symmetry can be appreciated.
Plant as a single focal point or in small groups at 4-6 metre spacing for dramatic landscape impact.

Perfect for framing views and creating vertical structure in large garden designs.
The dense foliage provides year-round screening and privacy.

History and Trivia

Abies nordmanniana is native to the mountains of Turkey, Georgia, and the Caucasus region, where it grows in cool, moist mountain forests at high altitudes.

Introduced to Britain in 1848, it became the preferred Christmas tree species from the 1950's, when its excellent needle retention after being cut down was widely known.
On the living tree, each needle remains for up to 20 years, longer than any other fir species.

It is named after Alexander von Nordmann (1803–1866), a Finnish Professor of Botany in the Russian Empire (Finland became independent from Russia in 1917).

In its native habitat, Nordmann Fir can live for over 500 years.

The timber, classed as a whitewood (as opposed to redwood), is used for construction and paper production.