What soil does Nordmann fir grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, acidic.

Is Nordmann fir hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Nordmann fir be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

How much water does Nordmann fir need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Nordmann fir cost?

It sells for roughly €36 to €130 in local shops, depending on size.

Nordmann fir

Abies nordmanniana

Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about €36.

Illustration of Nordmann fir — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

With its glossy, dark green, non-prickly needles and regular, dense cone shape branched to the ground it is the favourite Christmas tree, and nurseries sell it mainly as a potted or root-balled young tree for that purpose. It starts slowly, but planted out it becomes a tree of 12 to 18 metres, and in a good spot even 25 to 30 metres tall and 5 to 8 metres wide, so honestly a planted-out Christmas tree is not a good idea for a small garden: only plant it where a tree of this size will still fit decades from now, and for a small space choose the flat, yellow-needled dwarf Golden Spreader instead. It wants deep, moist, fertile, rather acidic, well-drained soil and humid air, and copes badly with hot, dry summers and polluted city air.

Watch out for

In the hot, dry lowland summers of Central Europe the dry air and lack of water make the needles brown and drop, spider mites multiply on it, and a tree weakened for long can be finished off by bark beetles, cankers and root rot; without regular summer watering and mulch it will not look good on the plains. Woolly adelgids, aphids and scale insects feed on the shoots and trunk, and needle rust can occur. It grows poorly on heavy, waterlogged clay, does not stand urban air pollution, and deer like to browse it. A potted Christmas tree kept indoors weakens quickly in warm, dry air: keep it inside for one or two weeks at most and re-accustom it to the cold gradually, otherwise it will not establish when planted out.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 1.8 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 1.8 m
Ultimate size	12–30 m × 4.5–8 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	600 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €36

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €36 – €130

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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