Now the cold season is here - and while the leaves of the deciduous trees present themselves in shades of yellow and red, the conifers remain green. But what do we actually know about the evergreen giants? In the blog we tell you more about the most beautiful native conifers in Switzerland.
In winter, the mostly evergreen conifers (so called because they bear cones) are often the only green under the snow. It is probably also because of this liveliness in the cold season that the Christmas tree is a conifer. But which conifers are really at home here and where do they thrive best? Find out more about our native Swiss conifers now!
PS: If you would like to plant trees yourself and give something back to the forest, register now for the NIKIN TreePlantingDay on 30 November!
Which native conifers are real "Swiss"?
The biodiversity of Swiss conifers is not one hundred percent due to nature. Many species became extinct during the last ice age and are now being reintroduced because of their decorative appearance, like the sequoia. Others were never found on the old continent and are true exotics as "immigrants", such as the Chilean araucaria. The native Swiss conifers among the 500 million trees in the Alpine Republic will therefore be presented here.
Fir (Abies)
More than 40 species of fir are known worldwide, but in Switzerland it is mainly the white fir or Abies alba. The coniferous tree, which also forms the logo of NIKIN , can be easily distinguished from the spruce - a glance at the cones is enough. In the case of the fir, these stand upright on the branch, in the case of spruce they hang down. The softness of the needles is also much more pronounced. The rather warmth-loving silver fir is found in the foothills of the Alps, in the Jura and the Swiss Mittelland, partly also in the Valais. As the tree depends on a good water supply with not too pronounced cold temperatures, it thrives best at altitudes between 800 and 1000m above sea level.
Spruce (Picea abies)
The spruce is the "top dog" among the European conifers. It predominates in the stand, especially in low-lying regions. next up the slopes, spruces have been heavily cleared in subalpine regions and displaced by regrowing larches. In Switzerland, spruces are found throughout the country, including on the southern side of the Alps. Although the Tree looks very similar to the fir at first, one reach into the branches is enough to distinguish them: Spruce needles are exceptionally hard and bore uncomfortably into the skin. The cones hang, unlike fir cones.
Pine (Pinus cembra)
The pine, also known as Swiss stone pine, does just as well on acid soils as it does at high altitudes - at over 2,500 m above sea level you can find the Tree, which is easily recognizable by its characteristic, long needles. The needles are grouped in clusters on the branch and give pines their distinctive appearance. The population in Switzerland has suffered greatly over the centuries, because the wood is a sought-after useful material.
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Larch (Larix decidua)
Larches are among the few conifers in which the needles change color in the fall and are eventually shed. This makes larch stands on mountain slopes an impressive spectacle in October. The larch is a comparatively undemanding Tree, which thrives well at all altitudes - the most important requirement is abundant light. That is why larches are spreading wherever other trees are cut down, in Switzerland recently by a factor of twenty.
Yew (Taxus baccata)
The yew owes its Latin name to the suitability of the wood for making bows and crossbows - the sharp decline in populations is also due to this fact. Thanks to a shift in thinking, the Tree is now being promoted again, and in domestic gardens it is popular as a woody plant, for example for hedges, because of its shiny green needles and bright fruit. Yews do not secrete resin, and they do not produce stains on clothing when the wood is handled, but just about all of the tree's components are highly toxic. They contain the highly toxic taxine, which is lethal even in the smallest doses. Only the pulp of the decorative red berries is non-toxic.
Juniper (Juniperus)
Juniper shrubs can also thrive as low to medium-sized trees under favourable conditions, similar to yew. Juniper thrives worldwide, but has difficulty asserting itself against competing plants. Therefore, it is mainly found in dry, stony areas and heath landscapes. The berry-shaped cones take three years to fully ripen and eventually turn bluish - they are valued both as a spice and in the production of spirits.
While we're on the subject of trees: Learn more about our TreePlanting commitment here. You might also be interested in the TreeTracker. If you have already ordered from us, you can use your order number to see where your Tree was planted.
