I believe, where I resided in Long Beach Calif, it's zone 9 (not 10 according to some). Nevertheless, I would like to share to those that live in the warmer climates my information regarding growing and caring for conifers. I am a conifer lover and tried all sorts of genus and species of conifers here in this winter warm climate (but not at all like desert) and the city's alkaline water with its high PH, which varies throughout the year.
I must have tried with varying success virtually all of the firs, many spruces, and some of the pines (south western white pine does well and it's beautiful).
The best and very well pleased with is the Colorado Blue Spruce. One normally would not think that a spruce with gone in a warm climate but mine does. This spruce does not seem to mind the alkaline city water either. I receive about 14 inches of rain a year in the area where I live. That may washout the alkaline buildup to a degree. Last year, the leader of my blue spruce grew 7 inches. The tree itself is only 3 1/2 ft. tall. So that is proportional growth and looks good. I brought another blue spruce this year(Baby Blue), have not planted yet. It's about 5 ft. tall. I look forward to watching its growth this coming spring.
One other remarkable fir I grew very successfully at my former house in Long beach and watered chiefly with the municipal WATER, is Abies guatemalensis or Guatemala fir. That species does NOT mind alkaline water as I care for it over the course of 25 years. It was so prolific in producing cones and seed that a forest emerged under the mother tree. I counted upwards of about 100 seedling under the mother tree, and many with extremely rapid growth that became tall saplings almost overnight.
I was so happy with the cone/seed production and the growth rate that I contacted a botanist at the University of North Carolina. He gave me instructions how to dry the seeds and then ship them to his university for growing experimental Christmas trees. Over all, the seedlings after out planted grew rapidly. I'm not surprised. But were not cold hardly, and many died because of that, not surprised about that either. So, after about 2 years of emails, it turns out that this species of fir was not the best for that area. But he did say in that particular year, after he out planted the seedlings, they had a bad winter there.
Then I contacted the university of Florida about the Guatemalan seed I wanted them to try. But disappointingly no replied.
Then I contacted a lady on the Big Island of Hawaii; a horticulturalist. She was interested and shipped the seed to her. Will, I wish she told me from the start, but that state because of their problem with invasive plants from elsewhere, she could not the transplant seedlings out or plant them as landscaping. That, I do not fully understand because Abies species as a rule are not invasive anywhere. Instead, she kept them in her greenhouse. I lost contact with her too and so I do not know what eventually became of the seedlings.
So there you have it with my conifer binge. I hope this helps some people.
I need to add one more bit, Noble Fir, Abies procera, is one hell of a hard species to grow, period. I have tried and tried over the years and all nobles died by root rot or by the late summer or early autumn heatwaves here. I found by experiment that this species, perhaps more than any other, needs super well drained soil. I mistakenly used potting soil, some of my own blend, but all in time died because of root rot. So, I read up on the rather hard to find information on container care for Noble Fir. Found that this species you need to use a lot of stuff in a mix: fir bark, pumices and pebbles or washed gravel, NEVER use potting soil! Of course this species can be grown only in containers here and likely anywhere else except in the Pacific Northwest. Right now, I have a few surviving Nobles in containers and they will be graduated up to larger containers this coming spring. All growing in the fir bark, etc. By the way, morning and noon sun only here in most of coastal LA County for this species). I put a lot of money into that species and got little in return so far.
I had good luck with other firs, other then the Guatemalan, like, Abies nordmanniana or Nordmann fir. I got good growth without the long winter chill as required for most Abies. I have read that this fir grows well under much harsher conditions. I recommend giving this Abies a try no matter where you live.
