Algerian Fir

Abies numidica

Leaves: Evergreen. Needle-like leaves are a glossy dark green color above and have two whitish bands beneath. Needles are short, stiff, thick, moderately flattened, and twisted at the base. They are ½ inch to 1 inch long and ¼ inch wide. Needles are densely packed on the upper side of the twig, forming a V-shape, and brush-like.

Bark/Twigs: Bark is grey and smooth on young trees, becoming brown-gray, scaly and fissured with age.

Flowers/Fruit: Inconspicuous flowers. Female flowers are green-yellow in color. Cylindrical cones are upright, 4 to 8 inches long and 1½ to 2 inch wide. The cones are green with a pink or violet tinge, maturing brown. The cones disintegrate when mature to release the winged seeds.

Mature size and shape: Large. 65 to 100 feet tall. Conical crown, sometimes becoming irregular with age, and densely branched. Branches spread horizontally.

General information/special features: Plant in full sun. Heat and drought tolerant.

Landscape use and maintenance: Ornamental tree. Average growing rate. Low maintenance.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8

Family/Origin: Pinaceae – Pine.

Campus Use: Rare. Only specimens. Can be found southeast of Marriott Library (Bld 86).