Korean Fir and Deodar Cedar Trees and Cones - McAllister

Korean Fir Tree

Korean Fir Tree.

Korean fir is a short-needled evergreen conifer with the typical pyramidal growth habit that makes fir trees so popular as Christmas trees. But Korean fir can also be an excellent choice as a landscape tree since many varieties grow to no more than about 30 feet—much smaller than many other fir species. Korean firs have dense branches covered with short needles that are dark green on top with silvery undersides and they produce distinctive purple to tan cones around 3 inches long. Korean fir grows best in a cooler, moderate climate, full sun, rich, moist but well-draining acidic soil, and can tolerate very cold winters. 

Deodar Cedar Tree

Cone from tree in McAllister Park.

The Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) is a large, fast-growing evergreen conifer native to the Himalayas, known for its graceful, pendulous branches and blue-green needles. It is a true cedar, not a juniper, and is widely planted as an ornamental specimen tree in suitable climates (growing zones 7-9). The tree prefers full sun and well-drained soil, is drought-tolerant once established, and requires minimal pruning, making it a low-maintenance landscape plant. True cedars (genus Cedrus) produce distinctive, barrel-shaped cones that stand upright on the branches. These cones are composed of thin scales that break apart when they mature, releasing the seeds.
Cones are the reproductive structures of conifer plants, with male cones producing wind-blown pollen and female cones containing ovules that are fertilized by this pollen to form seeds. The fertilization process takes place inside the female cone, which closes to protect the developing seeds over many months to years before opening to release them for dispersal and germination into new trees. 

Deodar Cedar Cones. 

Deodar Cedar trees start producing cones between 30 and 45 years of age, with good seed crops occurring every three years thereafter. These cones mature upright on the branches over a period of time, typically three years, before releasing their winged seeds.

Birch - Silver

Along 19th damaged trees.