The most common tree in Russia and belongs to the pine family. This is an evergreen tree with a height of about 30 meters and an incredible columnar crown. The crown begins to form almost from the root.
The pine needles are not prickly at all and smell very pleasant. They are used to produce the world-famous Fir Balsam.
In May, the fir begins to bloom. It has male and female varieties, as the males have yellow spikelets and the females have purple cones. Fir reproduces by seeds that ripen in cones.
It grows for quite a long time, so it is one of the longest-livers of the planet. Despite its high frost-resistant qualities, fir is a very heat-loving tree. It requires rich soil and plenty of moisture to grow. The soil for planting should be moderately moist and loamy. Tolerates well to calcareous soils; soils that are rich in humus are also suitable for growing.
Fir has many medicinal properties, so it is used in medicine. For these purposes, its buds, young shoots, needles, resin and bark are collected.