Abies pinsapo 'GLAUCA' Spanish fir, hedgehog fir

Spanish fir is one of the most popular conifers with blue needles. It is also called hedgehog fir as the needles are short and stiff, regularly composed around its branches. The shape is broadly conical, very neat and regular.

Glauca has striking silvery-blue needles which make it easy to combine with other darker green or golden coloured conifers. It grows about 3-4m in 20 years. After further decades, in full maturity, the overall height can reach some 10m. Having said that, there are mostly grafted plants in cultivation whose growth rate and size are reduced and these have denser branching. Female cones are cylindrical, about 10 cm long and grow erect on insolated branches. They ripen in August.

Spanish fir likes light, medium fertile, slightly acidic soil that remains moist. The best location is light shade or filtered sun, but if sufficiently mulched it can grow in full sun, too. It likes warmth and will suffer in draft so avoid windy places and do not plant it in cold, mountainous resorts. Fully hardy to -25 to -27°(USDA zone 5b).

Last update 20-12-2007; 06-01-2012