Trees & Shrubs Codexery

Fraser fir

Endangered Appalachian fir, widely used as a Christmas tree.

Last updated

Abies fraseri, commonly known as Fraser's fir or Fraser fir, is an endangered species of fir native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States. It is endemic to this region, where it grows in 48 populations on seven montane areas, and is closely related to balsam fir (Abies balsamea). The species is named after Scottish botanist John Fraser and is widely cultivated as a Christmas tree.

Scientific classification

  1. CladeTracheophytes
  2. CladeGymnosperms
  3. ClassPinopsida
  4. OrderPinales
  5. FamilyPinaceae
  6. GenusAbies
  7. GenusAbies
  8. SpeciesAbies fraseri

Named by (Pursh) Poir.

Close relatives

Other species of Abies with a Codexery entry.

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Fraser fir (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Conservation status

Endangered (EN)

  1. LC
  2. NT
  3. VU
  4. EN▲ this species
  5. CR
  6. EW
  7. EX
Population trend
Not held in our sources — see the assessment
Assessment published
2013

Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category

Where the fraser fir has been recorded

Where the fraser fir has been recorded1 mapped locations from 1,574 GBIF occurrence records; marked places: Southeastern United States, KuwohiSoutheastern United StatesKuwohi

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (1,574 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 47 inland records left out (institution coordinates).

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Quick Facts

Genus
Abies
Species
fraseri

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Abies fraseri is a small evergreen conifer with a conical crown, thin grayish-brown bark bearing resinous blisters, and needle-like leaves arranged in two rows. Its cones are erect, cylindrical, dark purple maturing to pale brown, and disintegrate at maturity to release winged seeds. The species is monoecious, with male and female cones on the same tree, and seed production may begin at 15 years of age.

Reader's Guide

Fraser's fir is significant both ecologically and economically. Ecologically, it is a key component of the Southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest, growing alongside red spruce and other trees at high elevations. It provides habitat for the endangered spruce-fir moss spider. Economically, it is the most popular Christmas tree in the United States, having been used more times as the White House Christmas tree than any other species.

North Carolina produces the majority of Fraser's fir Christmas trees, and the species was designated the official Christmas tree of North Carolina in 2005. The species faces severe threats from the non-native balsam woolly adelgid, which has killed over 80 percent of mature trees, and from climate change. However, recent studies show some recovery in certain areas, such as Kuwohi in Tennessee.

Did You Know?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fraser fir?

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is a small, endangered conifer that belongs to the pine family and is a close relative of balsam fir. It is found exclusively in the high elevations of the southeastern U.S. Appalachians and is best known to everyday people as a premium Christmas tree.

Where exactly does Fraser fir grow?

Its entire wild range is confined to a narrow band of montane forests in southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee. Across that region it survives in just 48 discrete populations spread over seven mountain areas, making it one of the most geographically restricted trees in North America.

What role does Fraser fir play in holiday traditions?

It is one of the most widely cultivated and sold Christmas trees in the United States, valued for its dense, short needles, stiff branchlets, and pleasant resin scent. For many families, a Fraser fir in the living room is the standard image of a Christmas tree.

Who is the tree named after?

The species honors Scottish botanist John Fraser, who gathered and described Appalachian plant specimens in the 18th century. The binomial name Abies fraseri was coined to credit his early fieldwork in the region.

Related entries

Same family (Pinaceae)

Picea rubens Picea rubensBlue spruce Picea pungensCedrus libani Cedrus libaniPicea abies Picea abiesPicea engelmannii Picea engelmannii

Named in this entry

FirPinalesHybrid (biology)ResinPicea rubensStomaVirginiaGreat Smoky Mountains

More in Trees & Shrubs

ConiferCryptomeriaCupressaceaeCupressusDalbergiaDiospyrosDouglas firElaeis guineensisFagus grandifoliaFagus sylvaticaFicusGossypium

Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. What is the scientific name of the Fraser fir?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Abies fraseri.

From the source: “Abies fraseri, commonly known as Fraser's fir, or Fraser fir, is an endangered species of fir in the order Pinales native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States.”

2. To which genus does the Fraser fir belong?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Abies.

From the source: “Abies fraseri, commonly known as Fraser's fir, or Fraser fir, is an endangered species of fir in the order Pinales native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States.”

3. What is the IUCN Red List category of the Fraser fir?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Endangered.

From the source: “Abies fraseri, commonly known as Fraser's fir, or Fraser fir, is an endangered species of fir in the order Pinales native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States.”

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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