Abies cephalonica: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Young trees are used as Christmas trees. Wood was used as lumber in the past but it has now become too rare.
Plant Profile: Abies cephalonica
Names
Black Mountain Fir, Grecian fir, Greek Fir
Phonetic Spelling:A-bees sef-al-on-ih-kuh
Genus:Abies
Species:cephalonica
Family:Pinaceae
The Greek Fir is a towering conifer that can grow between 80 and 110 feet tall, primarily found in the mountainous areas of Albania and Greece. While it boasts impressive resistance to drought and diseases, its substantial size makes it challenging to incorporate into residential landscapes. The tree features glossy green, needle-like leaves adorned with two blue stripes on the underside, and its pyramidal shape adds to its visual appeal.
This species thrives in fertile, slightly acidic, and moist soils, ideally situated in full sunlight. It is best planted in spacious environments such as meadows, parks, or university campuses that can accommodate its grandeur.
For those seeking a smaller option, dwarf cultivars are also available.
Abies cephalonica Feature Summary
Abies cephalonica Image Gallery
Tags
#full sun tolerant
#drought tolerant
#conifer
#insect pest tolerant
#needled evergreen
#large spaces
#evergreen tree
#Christmas tree
Similar Plants
Abies cephalonica is often confused with:
Abies cephalonica Feature Summary
Attributes
Young trees are used as Christmas trees. Wood was used as lumber in the past but it has now become too rare.
Albania to Greece
Woody
Fruit
No fruits. Seed cones are 4"-8" long 1 1/2" wide, around 200 scales, two-winged seeds. Cones release seeds when they disintegrate as they age.
> 3 inches
1-3 inches
Flowers
No flowers, conifer. Pollen cones ovoid and 1/2" long
Leaves
Needle-like flattened 1/2"-1" inches by 1/10" wide glossy, dark green above, two white-blue bands of stomata underneath. Tips are usually pointed, sometimes blunt. Needles are spirally arranged.
Needled Evergreen
Green
Needles
Other/more complex
Entire
< 1 inch
Prickly
Glossy
< 1 inch
Bark
Gray-brown and smooth when young, fissured with oblong plates as it ages. Trunk diameter can reach three feet.
Light Gray
Light Brown
Smooth
Fissured
Stem
Bright brown or red-brown, smooth. Buds conical or ovoid, resinous, scales visible at the apex
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Smooth (glabrous)
Scaly
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Needled Evergreen
Erect
Conical
Pyramidal
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
more than 60 feet
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Drought
Insect Pests
Recreational Play Area
Meadow
Abies cephalonica Image Gallery
Abies cephalonica Attributes
Abies cephalonica: Country Or Region Of Origin
Albania to Greece
Abies cephalonica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Abies cephalonica Fruit
Abies cephalonica: Fruit Description
No fruits. Seed cones are 4"-8" long 1 1/2" wide, around 200 scales, two-winged seeds. Cones release seeds when they disintegrate as they age.
Abies cephalonica: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Abies cephalonica: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Abies cephalonica Flowers
Abies cephalonica: Flower Description
No flowers, conifer. Pollen cones ovoid and 1/2" long
Abies cephalonica Leaves
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Description
Needle-like flattened 1/2"-1" inches by 1/10" wide glossy, dark green above, two white-blue bands of stomata underneath. Tips are usually pointed, sometimes blunt. Needles are spirally arranged.
Abies cephalonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Color
Green
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Abies cephalonica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Abies cephalonica: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Abies cephalonica Bark
Abies cephalonica: Bark Description
Gray-brown and smooth when young, fissured with oblong plates as it ages. Trunk diameter can reach three feet.
Abies cephalonica: Bark Color
Light Brown
Light Gray
Abies cephalonica: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Abies cephalonica: Bark Plate Shape
Diamond
Irregular
Oval
Rectangle
Round
Square
Abies cephalonica Stem
Abies cephalonica: Stem Description
Bright brown or red-brown, smooth. Buds conical or ovoid, resinous, scales visible at the apex
Abies cephalonica: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Red/Burgundy
Abies cephalonica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Abies cephalonica: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Abies cephalonica: Stem Buds
Hairy
Hairy tips
Scaly
Smooth/Hairless
Abies cephalonica Whole Plant Traits
Abies cephalonica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Abies cephalonica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abies cephalonica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Abies cephalonica Cultural Conditions
Abies cephalonica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Abies cephalonica: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Abies cephalonica: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Abies cephalonica: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Abies cephalonica: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Abies cephalonica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Abies cephalonica: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Abies cephalonica Landscape
Abies cephalonica: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Abies cephalonica: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Abies cephalonica: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
