Abies firma: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used as bonsai and Christmas trees. Wood is used for timber, flooring, crates, and paper pulp
Plant Profile: Abies firma
Names
Japanese Fir, Momi Fir
Phonetic Spelling:AY-bees FIR-mah
Genus:Abies
Species:firma
Family:Pinaceae
Moni Fir is an evergreen conifer native to Japan, known for its needle-like foliage. This tree can reach heights of 70 feet or more and features a wide, conical crown. Unlike many other fir species, it exhibits a greater tolerance for hot and humid conditions, making it suitable for cultivation in the southeastern United States.
For optimal growth, plant Moni Fir in full sunlight or in a location that receives some afternoon shade, ensuring the soil is average, consistently moist, and slightly acidic. It also adapts well to clay soils. This tree can serve as a striking specimen in a large garden, provide effective screening, or be used as a Christmas tree.
In terms of pests and diseases, Moni Fir faces few serious threats. Potential insect issues may include bark beetles, spruce budworms, aphids, bagworms, spider mites, and scale. Additionally, it may be susceptible to diseases such as cankers, heart rot, root rot, needle rust, and twig blight.
Tags
#evergreen
#shade tree
#full sun tolerant
#conical
#needles
#large tree
#slow growing
#fine texture
#bonsai
#accent plant
#wet sites
#disease resistant
#needled evergreen
#screening
#Braham Arboretum
#evergreen tree
#poor drainage tolerant
Similar Plants
Abies firma Feature Summary
Attributes
Used as bonsai and Christmas trees. Wood is used for timber, flooring, crates, and paper pulp
Is immune to the balsam woolly adelgid which can be a problem for other species of fir. It is resistant to phytopthora root rot.
Woody
Fruit
3-6 inch long conical seed cones are erect on branches and showy through the summer. In fall the cone breaks apart leaving only the center of the cone on the tree. The pollen cones are 1.25 inches long and droop from the leaf axils.
Green
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Summer
> 3 inches
Flowers
No flowers.
Spring
Leaves
.8-1.5 in. dark green fragrant flattened needles that spread at nearly right angles from the shoot. Needles are notched at base; sharp prickly point. They are bright green above, and greyish-green below with two broad stomatal bands.
Needled Evergreen
Green
Needles
Filiform
Entire
1-3 inches
Prickly
Fragrant
< 1 inch
Bark
The bark is scaly grey-brown, with resin blisters on young trees. Becomes scaly, fissured and corky with age.
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Dark Brown
Light Brown
Red/Burgundy
Scaly
Fissured
Ridges
Shredding
Spongy
Irregular
Stem
Young branches are ascending but become horizontal with age. The shoots are grooved, buff to grey-brown, glabrous or finely pubescent
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Smooth (glabrous)
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Needled Evergreen
Columnar
Conical
Open
Slow
Low
Fine
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Shade Tree
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Heat
Humidity
Wet Soil
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Abies firma Image Gallery
Abies firma Attributes
Abies firma: Country Or Region Of Origin
Japan
Abies firma: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Is immune to the balsam woolly adelgid which can be a problem for other species of fir. It is resistant to phytopthora root rot.
Abies firma: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Abies firma Fruit
Abies firma: Fruit Description
3-6 inch long conical seed cones are erect on branches and showy through the summer. In fall the cone breaks apart leaving only the center of the cone on the tree. The pollen cones are 1.25 inches long and droop from the leaf axils.
Abies firma: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Green
Abies firma: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Abies firma: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Abies firma: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Abies firma Flowers
Abies firma: Flower Description
No flowers.
Abies firma: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Abies firma Leaves
Abies firma: Leaf Description
.8-1.5 in. dark green fragrant flattened needles that spread at nearly right angles from the shoot. Needles are notched at base; sharp prickly point. They are bright green above, and greyish-green below with two broad stomatal bands.
Abies firma: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abies firma: Leaf Color
Green
Abies firma: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Abies firma: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Abies firma: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Abies firma: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Abies firma: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Abies firma: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Abies firma: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Abies firma: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Abies firma Bark
Abies firma: Bark Description
The bark is scaly grey-brown, with resin blisters on young trees. Becomes scaly, fissured and corky with age.
Abies firma: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Light Brown
Light Gray
Red/Burgundy
Abies firma: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Abies firma: Bark Plate Shape
Diamond
Irregular
Oval
Rectangle
Round
Square
Abies firma Stem
Abies firma: Stem Description
Young branches are ascending but become horizontal with age. The shoots are grooved, buff to grey-brown, glabrous or finely pubescent
Abies firma: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Abies firma: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Abies firma: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Abies firma Whole Plant Traits
Abies firma: 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 firma: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abies firma: 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 firma: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Abies firma: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Abies firma: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Abies firma Cultural Conditions
Abies firma: 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 firma: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Abies firma: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Abies firma: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Abies firma: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Abies firma: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Abies firma Landscape
Abies firma: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Abies firma: 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 firma: 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
