White Balsam Abies concolor
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Abies lowiana
- Picea concolor
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-bees KON-kol-or
- Description
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White Fir is conifer tree in the pine family (Pinaceae) that is slow-growing and long-lived. The native range is the western United States in the Sierra Nevada and southern Rocky Mountains and south to the mountains of Nevada, New Mexico and Mexico It is found in elevations of 3,000 and 11,200 feet.
White fir has a narrow dense pyramidal shape with horizontal branches and drooping lower branches. In the wild, it can grow 130 to 150 feet tall but in cultivation usually reaches 30-70 feet tall and 15- 30 feet wide. It prefers moist fertile soil with good drainage in full sun to partial shade. Avoid heavy clay and wet spots, It withstands heat and drought better than most firs.
The white fir has a good Christmas tree shape when young and good needle retention after cutting. It can be used as a specimen, for privacy and screening or for shade. It is not suited to the southeastern United States.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It breaks buds early in the spring that can be susceptible to frost damage. See potential insect problems for conifers fact sheet to the left
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Cloak'
Powder-blue needles - 'Candicans'
Silvery-blue needles and pale green cones with purplish cast
'Compacta'
Dwarf fir with lovely blue-green needles - 'Blue Cloak'
- 'Blue Cloak', 'Candicans', 'Compacta'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Cloak'
Powder-blue needles - 'Candicans'
Silvery-blue needles and pale green cones with purplish cast
'Compacta'
Dwarf fir with lovely blue-green needles - 'Blue Cloak'
- 'Blue Cloak', 'Candicans', 'Compacta'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- concolor
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western North America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds find cover and nesting sites in the branches.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 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:
- Dense
- Erect
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- 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)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Cones are cylindrical, 5 inches long, green or brown with a purple bloom (wax) when young, brown and glossy at maturity. The cones break apart and release winged seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Needles are 0.5 to 2 inches long; blue-green when young dull green with age and may have a bloom on the underside; needles pointed or notched at the tip. The needles have a slight citrus fragrance.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Orange
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- When the tree is younger, the bark can nearly look smooth (which is quite different to when it is older with many irregular plates). When young, the bark can look light gray to light brown with hints of orange underneath.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Branches are arranged in whorls of 4 or 5 with repeat branching to form flat, horizontal sprays. Buds are blunt and resinous
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Pollution
