Mexico, Guatamala in the mountains. Conical evergreen, dark green needles, silvery beneath. Erect 10-15cm cones, blue when young. Frost tender in first winter, tolerated -9C later. Fastest growing Silver fir, to 75cm in 2nd year.

Tamaulipa Province, Mexico, only found on 500 hectares. Narrowly conical, evergreen. Blueish green needles. Vigorous growth, two specimens are the tallest trees in our 35-year-old collection. Large volume timber production. Good near Fairlie.

Albania and Nth Greece. Broadly conical, deciduous. Large palmate compound leaves produce a dense shade. Large creamy white flowers, then prickly oval fruits, enclosing polished conkers prized by schoolboys in the UK. Best in fertile soils.

Mexico in the mountains. Vigorous pioneer species, evergreen in mild climates, deciduous in frosty sites. Grows in moist and drier sites producing timber for furniture, construction,and firewood.