Abies grandis
- Description
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Grand fir is an evergreen conifer native to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, occurring at altitudes of sea level to 1,800 m. in the Pinaceae (pine) family. There are two varieties growing at different altitudes. The coastal variety is one of the tallest firs in the world.
This is a large tree for the landscape and is probably best used for naturalization within its growing environment. It is very fragrant and can be used as a Christmas tree.
Firs are wildlife-friendly and are used for cover, nesting and food by birds and mammals.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. The balsam woolly adelgid is a problem in some areas. Other potential insect pests include bark beetles, spruce budworms, tussock moths, aphids, bagworms and scale. Spider mites may occur in hot conditions. Potential disease problems include cankers, heart rot, root rot, needle rust and twig blight.
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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- ‘Aurea’
Yellow new foliage - ‘Compacta’
Small round ball - ‘Johnsonii’
Narrow form - var. grandis.
Coastal grand fir is the tallest - var. idahoensis
Interior grand fir is shorter than the coastal one.
- ‘Aurea’
- ‘Aurea’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Johnsonii’, var. grandis., var. idahoensis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Aurea’
Yellow new foliage - ‘Compacta’
Small round ball - ‘Johnsonii’
Narrow form - var. grandis.
Coastal grand fir is the tallest - var. idahoensis
Interior grand fir is shorter than the coastal one.
- ‘Aurea’
- ‘Aurea’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Johnsonii’, var. grandis., var. idahoensis
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- grandis
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Plateau Indian tribes used the inner bark for treating colds and fever. Used as a Christmas tree and used in paper-making, as well as construction for framing and flooring.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southwestern Canada to CA
- Distribution:
- Western Canada, CA, ID, OR
- 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: 130 ft. 0 in. - 230 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 26 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Irregular
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The cones are 1.3 to 4 inches long. The scale bracts are short and hidden in the closed cone. In about six months the cone breaks apart and the winged seeds are released.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Prickly
- 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:
- Needle-like, flattened leaves are 1 to 1.3 inches long and 0.1 inches wide. The glossy dark green leaves have two green-white bands of stomata on the underside and are slightly notched at the tip. The two-ranked leaves spiral around the shoot, but each leaf is variably twisted at the base so they all lie in two more-or-less flat ranks on either side of the shoot.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray in younger trees and becomes brown with age, often with reddish periderm visible in furrows bounded by hard flat ridges.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are mostly opposite and light brown
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
