White fir Abies amabilis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called White fir:
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-beez ah-MAH-bil-iss
- Description
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Pacific silver fir is a needled evergreen tree native from Alaska down to northern California in the Pinaceae (pine) family. It can grow up to 260 feet tall in its native habitat. It requires cool, humid summers to thrive and so has a limited area for use. The species name "amabilis" is Latin for "lovely."
Pacific silver does well in full sun but is also more shade tolerant than other firs. The needles have two longitudinal bands or stripes underneath. The needles grow to the sides and top of the shoot but not the underneath, and they all lean forward towards the tip of the branch.
This tree is sometimes used as a Christmas tree or for Christmas decorations. It is sometimes used as an ornamental in large parks within its growing range. The wood is weak and is mainly used for paper production.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Annosus root disease can be a problem especially for older trees. Weakened trees are then susceptible to fir-engraver beetle (Scolylus ventralis), silver fir beetle (Pseudohylesinus sericeus), or fir root bark beetle (Pseudohylesinus granulalus).
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- amabilis
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The pitch was chewed as gum by native peoples, the boughs were preferred for bedding or floor coverings, and the soft, brittle wood was chiefly used as firewood. The wood today is mostly used for making paper or cheap construction as crates.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western coast of North America
- Distribution:
- AL, CA, OR, WA and parts of Canada
- Wildlife Value:
- Firs are useful to many animals for cover and nesting sites. Grouse eat the needles. Deer and elk eat the foliage and twigs in the winter. Birds, chipmunks, and squirrels eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 98 ft. 0 in. - 260 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Oval seed cones are resinous, purple-gray aging to brown. They grow upright on the tree. They disintegrate with age to release winged seeds. They are 3.5 to 6.5 inches long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Needles are flat, 0.8 to 1.8 inches long, dark green on top with two white/silver longitudinal stripes on the underside and notched at the tip. The needles densely packed, are twisted at the base so that they lie flat to the sides and on top of the shoot but not on the bottom. They all are brushed forward on the shoot
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Bark light grey and smooth but for resin blisters on young trees. As the tree ages the bark becomes reddish-grey with scales and furrows mostly at the base
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- No scales, covered in hair
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs mostly opposite, darker brown abaxially, light brown adaxially with tan to reddish hairs. Branches are gray or yellowish-brown in color when young.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
