What Conifer Species Is This?

last year

last modified: last year

I bought a house last year that had this tree planted above a retaining wall. If it isn't a dwarf cultivar then this location will never work. I am not as adept in conifer id as I am other tree species, so I am hoping some of the experts here could offer some insight. Pretty certain it is a fir tree based on the relative flatness of the needles, but what type?

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BillMN-z-2-3-4

last year

Probably not a great location for growing any kind of Douglas fir.

Although it could be many years before it would get to be a big problem. imo:

Removing it later when it's a large tree would be a bigger issue.

Any way you could move it?

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Comments (8)

BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
The needles and bark say fir and the pointy buds say Douglas fir.

I would think it is a cultivar because the branches say it's growing at 3-6" a year.
Elzeard Bouffier thanked BillMN-z-2-3-4
Embothrium
last year
last modified: last year
Looks like a Rocky Mountain Douglas fir. Those aren't as quick as coast Douglas fir. And the latter don't grow like weeds every time either, there are a lot of them around me here in its native area that are not booming. In addition the mystery tree is not very blue, whereas grafted named clones of Rocky Mountain Douglas fir tend to be noticeably bluish or silvery. Otherwise it might be possible it is a seedling from a named strain selected for forestry use. Something that is also unrelated to the current growth rate of this particular individual, other than it being a Rocky Mountain Douglas fir.
Elzeard Bouffier thanked Embothrium
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"....I notice its from a Wikipedia site -- is this the best on-line place to read about this sort of thing ?" If it is referenced, then it is (or can be, depending on the reference!) OK. Unreferenced stuff, treat with a big dose of salt. "(I mean *including* grafting compatability and any unexpected discoveries in this respect?)" Doubt you'll find much if anything on that on wikipedia! It seems to be one of those aspects which are of little interest to wiki contributors (and is also still not well researched, either). "Any of those Ephedra used as ornamental plants in temperate gardens? Or were they and now banned?" None are banned as far as I'm aware. Ephedrine products may be banned as herbal remedies in some areas, but that doesn't prohibit you from growing the plants. Your climate may well stop you from growing them though, they are all desert / semi-desert plants, and hard to cultivate in most widely inhabited areas. Not sure where you are, but places like southern California, Nevada, Arizona, they'd not be difficult to grow. But they're also not exactly the most decorative of plants, so there's very little interest in growing them as garden plants. "what conifer species would you class as primitive species?" No existing conifer species (or anything else) can really be called "primitive" - everything has been evolving for the same length of time, but just in different ways. Ginkgo is often called "primitive", but think about it, in some respects, such as pollution tolerance, it is very "advanced". The only case that one could argue is that longer-lived species do have slower generation times, and thus slower rates of evolution; this would make Pinus longaeva (generation time ÃÂ± several hundred years between evolution opportunities) the most primitive. Of course, by the same reasoning, bacteria (generation time sometimes just 20 minutes) are far more advanced than humans (generation time ~20-30 years, and just about the least-advanced mammal!). "probibly wollemia nobilis is the most primitive conifer look at its branches unlike other conifers" In terms of the conifer most distantly related to any other conifer, Sciadopitys verticillata wins. It is the only species in its family; every other conifer family has numerous species - Wollemia nobilis is just one of 40-odd species in the Araucariaceae. Resin
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Thanks. One thing I was driving at with the zone comparisons...is whether that had anything to do with it as well. Surely the tree in Szechuan sees 1) more reliable, heavier summer rainfall 2) less chance of late spring freezes 3) milder, more consistent winters. At least all hope is not lost for us who'd like to have spectacular Asian conifers in our Eastern US gardens: http://www.pabigtrees.com/trees/species/abies_fir.htm look at those firs on the right!
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you really havent given us much to go on ... where are you ... what conifer species in particular ..... are you in an area that has been deluged with rain.. or drought??? and we really need a picture ... ken
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Nothing much to do today. I am waiting for the coldest temperatures of the winter and a approaching snow storm that is due this weekend. Arbs are wrapped with twine, rabbit protection in place and zone 6 cultivars are protected. Deer are not a problem. With that in hand why not make a long post even longer. The quote: "I don't know why but I don't like dwarf conifers" I am not here to rail against that...just expressing my thoughts from the other side of the coin. We all have our likes and dislikes. A diversified group we are. I know why I like them and I am glad to have a garden full of them. So much more interesting avenues are available in color, size and texture. With the right plan and presentation nothing surpasses the look. Much more interesting then miles of green sticks pointing upwards to the heavens. No disrespect here for species lovers. For me this look just doesn't trip my trigger and not applicable to a garden setting in the first place. This places a huge void between species and cultivars and mixing the two is impossible unless you have a large land mass to accommodate the two. In my opinion even with both being conifers there should be two forums...one for each. Just my opinion but I think a valid one. Don't let this one rub the wrong way but the void between the two is significant in terms of likes /dislikes and has been expressed on this forum many times. My quote: "I do like them, (species) but I don't know why". I suppose with out them our availability to witch's brooms would be gone. Nurseries would be void of these beautiful little guys selling only deciduous trees shrubs and flowers. I would hate the thought of gardening with out conifer cultivars. They are my anchor plants and my sea of color during those bleak winter months. With out them there would be no garden. I would just be cutting grass and raking leaves. Gardening with trees, shrubs, hostas and flowers doesn't cut it with me. No disrespect to those who do...just not my cup of tea. Waiting patiently for spring and the arrival of a few interesting new cultivars. Dave
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Elzeard Bouffier
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@Embothrium I was afraid of that. It's a good looking tree, but it's a horrible spot for one. @BillMN-z-2-3-4 Unfortunately I have no place to plant a tree at this time that will become so big. I'll probably enjoy it it for a few more years then cut it down before it gets too large.
Embothrium
last year
In the meantime its helping obscure that big stark white wall next door. And you could slow the growth of the tree additionally with root pruning.
Elzeard Bouffier thanked Embothrium
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
i note the big white wall only has one tiny window.. do you have the same number of windows??.. i mean.. do you spend a lot of time looking at the house next door?? .. in ground bonsai.. as suggested.. will last as long as you can get deep enough to root prune it.. without renting a back hoe ...

can you give us a pic of the tree from near the white house.. so we can see it in situ.. how far from your house is it.. is that a retaining wall next to it.. or just one 4 x 4 or 6 or something???

unless its about 20 feet from your house.. it probably has to go ... lets be real .. this isnt going to be some tiny tree over the decades.. the leader appears to have grown at lest a foot ... and that might get larger as the tree settles in ..

yo fail to mention where you are .. but this tree can be moved now.. in winter.. or in spring.. depending where you are ...

i planted many a conifer that was cheap and scraggly like this one ... and hot spit.. a decade later.. they are telephone poles.. even the ones labeled dwarf ... now it the time to do something about this easily.. and for very low cost..

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
Elzeard Bouffier
Original Author
last year
@ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 Yes it is a retaining wall next to it. The previous owners planted it only about 10ft from the house, so it will definitely have to go. I would transplant it but have nowhere to relocate it to at this time
charles kidder
last year
The retaining wall will never hold a tree like that. I would get rid of it now. if you have nowhere to put it, put it out for recycling.

What Conifer Species Is This?

BillMN-z-2-3-4

Comments (8)

BillMN-z-2-3-4

Embothrium

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What Conifer Species Is This?

BillMN-z-2-3-4

Comments (8)

BillMN-z-2-3-4

Embothrium

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Elzeard BouffierOriginal Author

Embothrium

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Elzeard BouffierOriginal Author

charles kidder

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Elzeard Bouffier
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