The Turkish fir or Black Sea fir is a natural hybrid of Nordman Fir and Greek Fir. It develops a noble form reaching heights of up to 80′ tall with a 15-20’′ spread when fully grown. This fast-growing tree is more tolerant of warmer climates than other fir species. Its bark is a dark gray to black color with maturity. Older needles are very dark green, new needles are a bright almost lime green color. Branches are smooth and form a conical structure. The upper side of the fragrant needles is a medium green, but the needles curve upward, exposing the silvery undersides for added beauty. The seed cones are purplish-brown and 4 to 6 inches long.
A native of northwestern Asia Minor south of the Black Sea, Turkish fir tolerates a wider range of temperature (meaning more summer heat) than most firs. Also, this tree can handle less-than-ideal soil conditions, especially wetter soils. Mix Turkish Fir with deciduous trees to accent the fall color.
