Guatemalan Fir

Abies guatemalensis

Native to:
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico

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Taxonomy

Division:
Coniferophyta | - Conifers
Family:
Pinaceae
Genus:
Abies
Species:
Abies guatemalensis
USDA Symbol:
ABGU

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Tree
Height:
4000 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers high-altitude cloud forests

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–45 days
Notes:
Seeds require light for germination and benefit from cold-moist stratification. Best germination occurs at cool temperatures (15-20°C).

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI