Subalpine Fir 'Compacta'

Subalpine Fir 'Compacta' (Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica 'Compacta') is the perfect Christmas tree in miniature. The crown is dense, narrowly pyramidal and strikingly symmetrical, and the long, soft needles carry a bright blue-grey colour all year round. They are not prickly at all.

It grows slowly, 15-20 cm a year: at ten years it stands about 1.5 m tall and 0.75 m wide, so it stays in scale with even a small plot for decades. Plant it as a specimen in full sun, in gravel and rock gardens, or in a container on the terrace. It needs acidic to neutral soil, moist but well drained.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: On mature plants the young cones turn a dark purple and stand upright on the branches like candles.
• Dimensions: At 10 years it reaches 1.5 m in height and 0.75 m in width.
• Hardiness: It overwinters down to -29 °C (USDA zone 5).
• Light: It needs full sun - in an open position the tree keeps its lower branches well.
• Soil: It grows on clay, loam or sand, but only acid or neutral: alkaline soils this cultivar will not accept.
• Watering: Keep the soil moist but well-drained - the plant likes neither drying out nor standing water.
• Care: No pruning is needed - the tree shapes its dense, symmetrical crown by itself.
• Landscape use: An architectural specimen for city, gravel and rock gardens, and for a container on the terrace.
• Origin: The cultivar was selected as a seedling in 1927 at the Jan Boer Nursery in Boskoop and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.