|
The Canaan is a medium growing (1-2ft per year) evergreen. Its needles are about 1 inch long and has a nice green color. It does not shed its needles but holds them for 10 years or longer. It is native to the mountain areas of West Virginia; it was once thought to be a balsam fir but has now been shown to be a distinct species.
The canaan fir will grow up to 50- ft tall and 15 ft wide, and has the traditional evergreen shape. Its use in windbreaks has not been evaluated as this species has just started to be used outside of its normal range and is doing remarkable well. It will grow in areas that the Balsam and Fraser fir will not. It will grow on heaver soils and higher ph soils remarkable well.
Is now being used for X-mas trees in plantations as I have in my picture growing on a heavy soil. It does not have any serious disease problem although some people have had spider mites during a hot summer. Being from the east in higher precipitation and humidity it is not bothered by needlecast and canker diseases that western species are. Recommend planting on a well-drained soil or on slightly sloping ground so water can run off and not be excessive. At this time would not put out in the direct wind but on an inside row of a multi row windbreak.
A 2-ft tall potted tree can be 7 ft tall in 5 years, in well-drained soil with adequate moisture, and weed and grass control around the base of the tree. Spacing--At this time recommend inside rows only at 16 to 20 ft between rows and plants.
The Canaan fir is a really beautiful tree but its use as a windbreak tree is now being evaluated. I am planting them in the full wind and testing there hardiness, but can take many years to proper evaluate a new species as droughts and high rainfall are also necessary. If you want to be the “first on the block” to try this new species in a windbreak please do and keep me informed on the results so we can share it with others.
Cannan Fir Sizes
8"-17" bare-root - $1.75
18"-24" bare-root - $4.00
2'-3' bare-root - $6.00
18"-24" - Potted - $12.50
2'-3' - Potted - $18.00
|
