Abies homolepis 'F.R. Newman' was found on the grounds of Cornell University's Plantations Arboretum by Evan Reed of New York. Evan sent Dax Herbst the broom and it was distributed both among friends as well as for propagation at Gee Farms Nursery, MI; To Dennis Dodge of Bethlehem Nursery and to Rich Eyre of Rich's Foxwillow Pines who forwarded scion wood to Joe Stupka. Bickelhaupt Arboretum received several - so did Everlasting Beauty Landscape (IA) and to Ontario, Canada nurseryman Darrren Heimbecker of Whistling Gardens, were several specimens given to; Brooms were also given to Cornell University as well to Evan Reed, the founder. In 2009 more scion wood was sent to Coenosium Gardens, WA. The grafting percentages were very high so this broom is on the easy side to propagate. 2 - 3 inches (5 - 7.6 cm) per year was observed on the broom.
Previously the broom had been identified to be a King Boris fir (Abies borisii-regis), however, further evaluations of cones proved the Mother Tree at Cornell University to be an incorrectly-labeled specimen.
