Greek fir is an evergreen conifer in the pine family (Pinaceae) that is native to the mountains of Greece. Genus name comes for Greek meaning long-lived. Specific epitaph derives from the Greek Cephallenia and refers to the largest of the Ionian islands. This medium to large-sized tree reaches a height of 80 to 110 feet and 15-30 feet wide with a pyramidal form. It prefers fertile slightly acidic moist soil in full sun. It has good drought and disease resistance. The spirally arranged needles have two white-blue stoma bands on the undersides and the seed cones are large up to 8 inches. This large tree requires large spaces as a park or campus. Dwarf varieties are available. Can be used as a wind break or for screening and privacy. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See potential insects for conifers fact sheet to the left
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 80 ft. 0 in. - 110 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Erect; Pyramidal; Spreading
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Prickly
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Needle-like, flattened, 0.5 to 1 inch long by 0.1 inch wide, glossy, dark green above, two white-blue longitudinal bands of stomata underneath. Tips are usually pointed, sometimes blunt. Needles are spirally arranged.
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Seed cones are 4 to 8 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, with around 200 scales, each scale bearing two seeds that are winged. Cones disintegrate at maturity, releasing the seeds. Pollen cones ovoid and 0.5 inch long
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Gray-brown and smooth when young, fissured with oblong plates as it ages. Trunk diameter can reach three feet.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Bright brown or red-brown, smooth. Buds conical or ovoid, resinous, scales visible at the apex
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Albania to Greece
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
Young trees are used as Christmas trees. Wood was used as lumber in the past, but it has now become too rare.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Recreational Play Area
Design feature
Barrier; Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#needled evergreen #evergreen tree #drought tolerant #Christmas trees #conifer #large spaces #full sun tolerant #pest resistant #parks #windbreak #hortcontest #screen