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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Abies concolor Abies concolor needles
Abies koreana Abies koreana
Juniperus scopulorum Form
Abies lasiocarpa has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Rocky Mountain Fir Abies lasiocarpa

Phonetic Spelling
AY-bees las-ee-oh-KAR-pah
Description

Medium to large size tree with narrow crown and dense, short drooping branches. Best grown in moist, cool climate as in the high altitude of the Pacific Northwest. The wood of this plant is white, soft, and decays quickly. This tree helps create forests in severe and disturbed sites. It provides cover, which helps in rehabilitating the landscape and protecting watersheds. This tree grows in forests that are in high water-yielding areas in the western US and are very significant in water managements and conservation.

Bare root transplanting is recommended.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See the fact sheet for potential insect problems to the left

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Duflon'
  • 'Glauca Compacta'
  • var. arizonica 'Compacta'
'Duflon', 'Glauca Compacta', var. arizonica 'Compacta'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#purple flowers#large tree#blue needles#slow growing#pyramidal#white bark#alpine#blue-green leaves#showy cones
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Duflon'
  • 'Glauca Compacta'
  • var. arizonica 'Compacta'
'Duflon', 'Glauca Compacta', var. arizonica 'Compacta'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#purple flowers#large tree#blue needles#slow growing#pyramidal#white bark#alpine#blue-green leaves#showy cones
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Abies
    Species:
    lasiocarpa
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The wood of this plant is used for construction of boxes, doors, poles, frames, and fuel. Small trees are commonly used as Christmas trees.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Alaska to Southern New Mexico
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Columnar
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    This plant has cones that are burgundy, brown, or black. The cones are erect and 2 to 4 inches long.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Description:
    Young cones are purplish in color.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    White
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Needles 1 to 1.5 inches long, crowded, pale bluish green.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Grayish to chalk white bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight