Abies homolepis

Nikko fir is in the pine or Pinaceae family and is native to the mountains of central and southern Honshu and Shikoku islands in Japan. It is grown as an ornamental tree in northern Europe and in North America.

• Tree crown is pyramidal, with horizontal branches, growing to a height of up to 40 m.
• Needles are 1–3 cm long and 2–2.5 mm. wide, blunt-tipped, no notch, spreading outwards and upwards, with a distinct V-like parting above, spreading horizontally below, flattened on both faces; colour is shiny dark green above, bluish-white below due to the stomatal lines below.
• They are attached to the twig by a base resembling a small suction cup.
• The species is monoecious. Male pollen cone is 1.4 cm long and 7 mm wide, ovoid, yellowish-green, stamen dark purple. Female seed cone is 7–10 cm long by 3–4 cm wide, upright (unlike pendant spruce cones) cylindrical, rounded at the tip, resinous, dark violet and maturing to brown. Scales are slightly pubescent, bracts are hidden, about 1/2 the height of the scales. Cones disintegrate (fragment) in the late fall, releasing winged seeds.
• Buds are 10–14 mm in diameter, ovoid-conical, partially hidden by the leaves, chocolate brown with white resin; branchlets are slightly smooth, gray or brown to yellowish-brown, tinted pink, deeply grooved; bark is grayish-brown, with exfoliating scales.