Abies pinsapo, Spanish fir, is a species of tree in the family Pinaceae, native to southern Spain and northern Morocco. Related to other species of Mediterranean firs, it appears at elevations of in the Sierra de Grazalema in the Province of Cádiz and the Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra Bermeja, both near Ronda in the province of Málaga. In Morocco, it is limited to the Rif Mountains at elevations of on Jebel Tissouka and Jebel Tazaot. The scientific name pinsapo is from the Spanish vernacular name for the species.
Abies pinsapo is an evergreen conifer growing to 20âÂÂ30 m tall, with a conic crown, often becoming irregular with age. The leaves are 1.5âÂÂ2 cm long, arranged radially all round the shoots, and are strongly glaucous pale blue-green, with broad bands of whitish wax on both sides. The cones are cylindrical, measuring 9âÂÂ18 cm long. They are green to pinkish-purple before maturity, and have a smooth surface, with short bract scales that do not protrude. When mature, they disintegrate to release the winged seeds.
There are two subspecies:
The Moroccan subspecies, Moroccan fir, differs in the leaves being less strongly glaucous and the cones slightly longer, 11âÂÂ20 cm long. It is sometimes treated as a separate species, Abies marocana.
Despite the best conservation and reforestation efforts that have greatly increased the abundance of Spanish fir, it still has several threats such as fires, urban projects, erosion, excessive visitors and tourists, etc.
The cultivars A. pinsapo 'Aurea' (to 8m, with golden new growth) and A. pinsapo 'Glauca' (to 12m plus, with grey-green leaves) have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.