Fraser Fir care — light, water, toxicity and hardiness
Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) wants full sun and a drink about every 7 days once established. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7. It is safe to have around pets.
| scientific name | Abies fraseri |
|---|---|
| family | Pinaceae |
| category | tree |
| plant type | perennial |
| light | full sun |
| water cadence days | 7 |
| mature height cm | 1500 |
| min zone | 4 |
| max zone | 7 |
| frost tolerant | true |
| toxic to pets | false |
| toxic to humans | false |
| edible | false |
How often should I water Fraser Fir?
The Christmas tree; cool, moist, well-drained.
Who eats it
Palatable to browsing animals such as deer: low. Palatable to people: no.
What it needs
Its shade tolerance is low. Its moisture use is medium. Its drought tolerance is low. It wants at least about 45 inches of rain a year. Above roughly 100 inches of annual rain it struggles. It tolerates soil down to pH 3.5. It tolerates soil up to pH 5.5. Its fertility requirement is low. Adapted to coarse, sandy soils: yes. Adapted to medium, loamy soils: yes. Adapted to fine, clay soils: no. Its tolerance of waterlogging is low. It needs at least 90 frost-free days. Its salt tolerance is low. Its tolerance of chalky soil is low. Its fire tolerance is low. Fire resistant: no. It has been recorded down to -23°F. It suppresses neighbours chemically: no.
How it grows
It grows as a single stem form. Its growth rate is moderate. Its lifespan is moderate. It puts on most of its growth in spring and summer. It spreads by seed at a slow rate. It resprouts after damage: yes. Coppices: no. Its tolerance of hedging is low. At maturity it reaches about 55.0 feet. By twenty years it is about 20 feet. Its roots go down at least 6 inches. Its shape is erect. It holds its leaves through winter: yes.
What it looks like
It blooms in mid spring. The flowers are purple. Conspicuous in flower: no. The foliage is dark green. The foliage texture is medium. In summer the canopy is moderate in porosity. In winter it is moderate in porosity. Fall colour: no. The fruit or seed is brown. Fruit begins in spring. Fruit finishes by fall. It fruits medium. The fruit persists on the plant: yes. The fruit is conspicuous: yes.
Growing more of it
Propagated by seed: yes. Propagated by cuttings: yes. Propagated by container: yes. Propagated by bare root: yes. Propagated by bulb: no. Propagated by corm: no. Propagated by tubers: no. Cold stratification required: no. Seedling vigour is medium. Commercial availability: routinely available.
Source: Drafted from US Cooperative Extension horticulture guidance; pending HUMAN-05 review (issue 280) · ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List · 2026-09-02