Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’

Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ detail (26/12/2011, Belkovice, Czech Republic)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: N/A

Soil: Moist, well-drained

Eventual Height: 15m

Eventual Spread: 8m

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Pinaceae

Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ is a broadly conical, slow growing, medium sized evergreen tree. Its grey/ green leaves are blunt needles, stiff, arranged around the shoot and are up to 2cm long. The male and female cones appear on the same tree, these are initially pale green or purple and ripen to brown. When mature the scales of the cones disintegrate to release winged seeds.

Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ is commonly known as the Blue Spanish Fir or the Glaucous Spanish Fir. The species, Abies pinsapo, is native to southern Spain and northern Morocco.

The etymological root of the binomial name Abies is derived from the Latin name for the fir tree. Pinsapo is derived from the Spanish name for this tree, ‘Pinapares’.  Glauca is from the Latin meaning blue/ grey.

Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ (26/12/2011, Belkovice, Czech Republic)

The landscape architect may find Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ as an interesting evergreen specimen tree with an architectural branch structure. It prefers a sheltered position and is not tolerant of urban pollution. It is drought tolerant once established.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ prefers moist, well-drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soil but prefers slightly acidic.

Abies pinsapo ‘Glauca’ requires little maintenance.