Abies homolepis.

A tree 100, occasionally 130 ft high in Japan; young shoots without down, but corrugated with the wrinkled protuberances on which the leaves are seated, the groove between the leaf-bases being deep; buds resinous. Leaves 1⁄3 to 11⁄8 in. long, about 1⁄16 in. wide; slightly notched at the flattish apex, dark bright green above, with two broad, blue-white stomatic bands beneath. The undermost leaves are the longest, and they spread horizontally; above them each succeeding rank becomes smaller and more erect, leaving at last a very narrow, or scarcely perceptible V-shaped opening along the top. Cones 3 to 4 in. long, 11⁄4 to 11⁄2 in. wide tapered at top and bottom, purple, finally brown; bracts quite enclosed. Bot. Mag., t. 7114.

Native of Japan; introduced about 1870. This is one of the most thriving and handsome of firs, and very hardy. It occasionally bears good crops of its rich purple cones, and is then very beautiful. It is, perhaps, best distinguished by the deeply corrugated branchlets, the grooves in which become deeper the two following years, by the scaly bark of the trunk and the short, notched leaves. A few of the best specimens on record are: Taymouth Castle, Perths., 101 × 101⁄4 ft (1961); Westonbirt, Glos., pl. 1880, 87 × 71⁄4 ft (1966); Yester House, E. Lothian, 88 × 83⁄4 ft (1955); Grayswood Hill, Surrey, pl. 1882, 82 × 81⁄4 and 82 × 71⁄2 ft (1964); Bodnant, Denbigh, 87 × 71⁄2 ft (1966).

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

specimens: Wakehurst Place, Sussex, pl. 1916, 82 × 7 ft (1979); Abbotsbury, Dorset, 102 × 63⁄4 ft (1980); Westonbirt, Glos., in Loop Walk, pl. 1880, 85 × 71⁄2 ft (1977); Stanage Park, Glos., pl. 1910, 98 × 83⁄4 ft (1978); Sidbury Manor, Devon, pl. 1898, 88 × 81⁄2 ft (1977); Hergest Croft, Heref., 79 × 83⁄4 ft (1977); Tremough, Cornwall, 85 × 103⁄4 ft (1977); Leighton Hall, Powys, 74 × 10 ft (1984); Taymouth Castle, Perths., 111 × 113⁄4 ft (1983); Monteviot, Roxburghs., 98 × 9 ft (1983); Glamis Castle, Angus, in Pinetum, 85 × 111⁄4 ft (1981); Ardross Castle, Ross, in the Garden, 80 × 9 ft (1980); Castlewellan, Co. Down, 70 × 10 ft (1982); Caledon Castle, Co. Armagh, 102 × 63⁄4 ft (1980); Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, Eire, by River Walk, 88 × 9 ft (1985); Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, Eire, 26 ft high in 1931, 90 × 8 ft (1980).

From New Trees

Abies homolepis Siebold & Zucc.

Nikko Fir

This species was described by Bean (B156, S26) and Krüssmann (K36).

A. homolepis f. tomomi (NOW A. homolepis Siebold & Zucc. var. homolepis) K37

The dark, narrow, densely columnar tree in the centre is the Abies homolepis 'unlike any other' at the eastern end of Loch Tay, Perthshire, Scotland. This abandoned pinetum used to form part of the policies of nearby Taymouth Castle and is home to a roll call of giant trees. The Nikko Fir is flanked by Pseudotsuga menziesii on the left, and a staggering multi-stemmed Picea smithiana on the right. Image Tom Christian.

Abies homolepis seed cones, photographed in the Ohdaiga-hara mountains, Honshu, Japan. September 2013. Image Tom Christian.

Abies homolepis coning profusely in the Ohdaiga-hara mountains, Honshu, Japan, September 2013. Image Tom Christian.

Abies homolepis in the Ohdaiga-hara mountains, Honshu, Japan. Note the ascending branches and branchlets in the crown. September 2013. Image Tom Christian.

Abies homolepis in Katakochi National Forest, Nagano, Japan, October 2013.

One of several relatively columnar Abies homolepis in the woodland garden at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, late March 2020. Image Tom Christian.

var. umbellata (Mayr) E.H. Wilson

Abies homolepis var. umbellata is generally more written about than grown, and is probably of limited horticultural difference to the type. Trees from seed collected by E.H. Wilson (Wilson 4078) are still growing in some collections, including one particularly large specimen at Dawyck, planted in 1924 (an adjacent plaque informs visitors that it was measured at 24.5 m, 71 cm dbh, in 2001). This remains densely clad with branches and foliage, and although a fine tree, is decidedly sombre. There are also some younger specimens in the Scottish botanical gardens from cultivated origins. In the Rogów Arboretum there is a forest plot with 30 specimens, planted in 1959, that are healthy and fully hardy in the continental conditions experienced in Poland (P. Banaszczak, pers. comm. 2007).