Plant developers are working on new cultivars of Fraser fir that will perform better in our climate and in the urban landscape. Properly sited, they are gorgeous, but both Douglas and Fraser firs are easily stressed by city conditions. Firs need well-drained soil that is slightly acid. As with spruce, they are very shallow-rooted and sensitive to being planted too deeply. They also do best where there isn't much root competition.
Firs are a good choice as an alternative to spruce or pines when the site is semi-shady.
Hemlock Native to our area, hemlock offers a beautifully graceful evergreen. They have very short, flat needles that are green on their upper side and very pale light green on the underside giving them a distinctive appearance. To grow happy and healthy, hemlocks require cool, moist, well-drained, acid soil. Sometimes that is difficult to provide in the urban landscape, but there are some very beautiful specimens growing in the Twin City area. Hemlocks are the most shade tolerant evergreen tree.