We are very familiar with the sight of lush green fir trees because they grow everywhere in our country. One of the most popular species in Central Europe is undoubtedly the shapely Nordmann fir, which has soft needles. But their origin lies in other areas of the world.
Where does the Nordmann fir originally come from?
The Nordmann fir, also known as the Caucasus fir, originally comes from the Caucasus region, which extends across Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan. The fir tree was discovered in 1835 by the Finnish botanist Alexander von Nordmann.
With the middle name Caucasus fir
The Nordmann fir is also known to many people as the Caucasus fir. She doesn't have this name by chance, it was given to her for good reason. Anyone interested in the geography of the earth will now sit up and take notice. Because there is a region further away from us called the Caucasus. Is there a connection?
In fact, the name Caucasus fir points to the origin of the Nordmann fir. And as expected, it is located in the region that also bears this name.
Where is the Caucasus anyway?
The Caucasus is not a typical tourist region for us. That's why very few Europeans know where exactly the Caucasus is. It is a high mountain range that lies between the Black and Caspian Seas. The region is about 1,100 kilometers long and runs from west-northwest to east-southeast. It extends across the countries of Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran and Azerbaijan.
The Caucasus has a continental climate to which the fir is well adapted and is therefore rarely plagued by pests. In its homeland it is present in large quantities and is part of huge forests.
The variety name reveals the exact origin
If you read the names of the different varieties, you will notice that they have names that sound unusual to us. These are not names created for advertising purposes, but rather a reference to the exact region of origin of the fir variety. Here are a few examples:
- Ambrolauri
- Apsheronsk
- Arkhyz
- Artvin Yalya
- Borshomi
- Krasnaya
When did the fir tree leave its area of origin?
The Nordmann fir was discovered by a Finnish botanist named Alexander von Nordmann. Hence its name Nordmann fir, which gives no indication of its Caucasian origins. The discovery is dated to 1835. In Central Europe, this type of fir has been cultivated for less than 200 years. By botanical standards that is a short period of time.
Where do Christmas trees come from?
Nordmann firs are the most popular Christmas trees because they stay fresh in the living room for up to four weeks and do not needle. However, the countless copies that are sold every Christmas season do not come from the distant Caucasus. The main growing regions are in Schleswig-Holstein, the Sauerland and Denmark.
Tip
The “Borshomi” variety grows bushy and has an ideal pyramid shape. It is not only the most popular Christmas fir, but also an attractive appearance as a solitary tree in the garden.