Tree of the Month - January 2017
What is the tree of the month?
Cheng fir (Abies chengii)
Why is it tree of the month?
This species was described in the 1980s from our single specimen here at Westonbirt. It was collected as seed by the Scottish plant hunter George Forrest in the 1930s and has been grown in collections under various names since. Our historical records indicate that our plant was planted in 1938. Recent literature suggests that it may be a variety or form of the related Abies forrestii, though this is not a universally held view.
Where can I find it?
Our tree, the TROBI champion for height, grows close to Willesley Drive and Byhams Ride in Silk Wood.
You can locate specimens using the Westonbirt map
