Cunninghamia Species, China-Fir, China Fir, Chinese Fir

Hi. I’ve been observing this species since 1970ish. And studying and planting trees since 1966, documented. The great Nashville free...Read Moreze of Jan. 20, 1985 (-17 F) killed every China-Fir in Tennessee, to the ground, even the ones at the governor’s mansion. Luckily this species resprouts great, so almost none were totally obliterated. The one I own at this time, here at http://www.WhiteHouseArboretum.com is of quintessential and elite form. Mine is the blue form, or ‘glauca’ type. It’s about 40’ tall, 10” dbh, and beautifully excurrent in shape. Most people allow multiple trunks, which it strongly tries to do, but I have never, because I believe it develops a much better tree with only one trunk. I posted a photo of it. Here at my arboretum, the past 15 years, the low temp hasn’t passed -8 F, so it hasn’t been hurt too bad yet. I love this prehistoric tree, not just for its history, but for its uniqueness and beauty. I haven’t found the pokie needles to be a problem, they cut up very easily with a mower and disappear into my grass. Thank you, Randy Allen

I have this and a glauca , each about 30 feet tall. They are really pretty trees most of the year, though they do tend to hang on to dea...Read Mored needles. I also have a Monkey Puzzle tree, which is only a few years old and about 5 feet tall. My husband likes the look of the trees, especially this variety but he complains about the sharp needles of all three trees when he cuts the grass. I like the glauca but he feels it is unnaturally blue and hard to blend in in our area. They can be scratchy and are best planted in the background, not where anyone ever walks.

This plant appears much more suited to the Southeast than many other conifers. A tough spiny tree with
a distin...Read Morective appearence which is used for forestry in south
China. If cut down it can regrow from the roots unlike many other conifers. Probably should not be planted next your
house since it can be a fire hazard.

China Fir grows well here in south Alabama. They look better in good soil with plenty of moisture, the ones planted in drier soil seem to...Read More have some dieback. For a tall slender tree they seem to hold up well to hurricane force winds.