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

Western Balsam Fir Abies lasiocarpa

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

Subalpine fir is an evergreen conifer in the pine family (Pinaceae) that is native to the Pacific Northwest. The Rocky Mountain subalpine fir is found in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains from Alaska and Canade south to Colorado. It is sometimes listed as var. bifolia, but not all biologists recognize it as a separate variation as the differences are small. The Coast Range subalpine fir occurs in the mountains from Alaska south to California.  The genus name is old Latin for tree.

Subalpine fir is a medium to large tree with a narrow crown and short dense drooping branches. It will grow up to 100 feet tall and is fairly short-lived. It is best grown in a moist, cool climate as in the high altitude of the Pacific mountains. Subalpine fir will grow in full sun but is also shade-tolerant. It tends to lose its natural shape if grown in lower altitudes.

The needles are blue-green to grey-green with stomal lines on both surfaces. The cones are purple to brown, barrel-shaped and held upright.

The wood is soft and generally not used for building. Its best use is for its contributions to watershed function, wildlife habitat, and recreational activities.

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:
  • Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica
    Found in Arizona and New Mexico and has corkier bark
  • 'Duflon'
    1 ft by 1 ft. Very slow growing
  • var. arizonica 'Glauca'Compacta'
    5 ft tall. blue needles
Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica, 'Duflon', var. arizonica 'Glauca'Compacta'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#purple flowers#large tree#blue needles#slow growing#pyramidal#white bark#alpine#blue-green leaves#mountains#showy cones#pacific coast
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica
    Found in Arizona and New Mexico and has corkier bark
  • 'Duflon'
    1 ft by 1 ft. Very slow growing
  • var. arizonica 'Glauca'Compacta'
    5 ft tall. blue needles
Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica, 'Duflon', var. arizonica 'Glauca'Compacta'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#purple flowers#large tree#blue needles#slow growing#pyramidal#white bark#alpine#blue-green leaves#mountains#showy cones#pacific coast
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Abies
    Species:
    lasiocarpa
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Alaska to Southern New Mexico
    Play Value:
    Screening
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Columnar
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits but cones are produced. Cones are resinous, purple, burgundy, brown, or black. The cones are erect and 2 to 4 inches long. They disintegrate in the fall to release winged seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    White
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Needles 1 to 1.5 inches long, crowded, pale bluish green to gray-green. They are whorled but twisted at the base making them appear two0ranked.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Young tree have smooth grayish bark that becomes rough and fissured with age
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    The stiff stout twigs have sparse brown pubescence. The buds are tan to dark brown, rounded and resinous with triangular scales.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Design Feature:
    Screen/Privacy