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Abies veitchii sikokiana
Cultivation Notes
This article was provided care of 'Plants For A Future'
| Latin Name: | Abies veitchii sikokiana |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Synonyms: | A. sikokiana. Nakai. |
| Known Hazards: | None known |
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Author: (Nak.)Kusaka.
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| Habit: Evergreen Tree |
| Habitat: Cool wet mountainsides in central and southern Japan[58, 200]. |
| Height: 30.0 Width: |
Cultivation Details:
Prefers a good moist but not water-logged soil[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are very shade tolerant, especially when young, but growth is slower in dense shade[81]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[1]. Prefers slightly acid conditions down to a pH of about 5[200]. Prefers growing on a north-facing slope[200].
Not a long-lived tree, but it is relatively fast growing[11, 81]. Trees can put on new growth of 75cm two years after planting out and grow at up to 1 metre a year for the first 20 years or so of their life[185]. Growth rapidly tails off at this age, however, and trees often die quite soon afterwards[185].
Trees are very hardy, but in the milder winters of Britain they are often excited into premature growth and are then susceptible to damage by late frosts[1]. Trees grow best in the Perthshire valleys of Scotland[11].
Female flowers are produced relatively early in the life of the tree, usually by the time it is 6 metres tall[185].
Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm in height. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[200].
Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[200]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[200].
This tree is sometimes recognised as a seperate species, A. sikokiana. Nakai[11].
This species is sometimes grown as a 'Christmas tree'[200].
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Propagation Notes:
Seed - Sow early February in a greenhouse or outdoors in March[78]. Germination is often poor, usually taking about 6 - 8 weeks[78]. One report says that it is best to grow the seedlings on in the shade at a density of about 550 plants per square metre[78] whilst another report says that they are best grown on in a sunny position[80]. Stratification is said to produce a more even germination so it is probably best to sow the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[80, 113]. The seed remains viable for up to 5 years if it is well stored[113].
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