Abies procera
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-beez PRO-ker-uh
- Description
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Noble fir is an evergreen conifer in the Pinaceae (pine) family. It is native to the Cascade Range and Coastal Range mountains of extreme northwest California, western Oregon and Washington state from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. The genus name is old Latin for tree. The specific epithet means “tall.”
The tree will grow 50 to 100 feet tall or taller with a pyramidal to narrow form. In the wild it can reach 230 feet tall. This tree does well in windy and sunny conditions in well-drained moist loamy soils. It is best grown within its native range of the Pacific Northwest.
It has upswept branches with blue-green needles having pale longitudinal stripes on both surfaces. The large cones have purple scales and are held upright.
Noble fir is used as a Christmas tree and its root system makes it wind-tolerant. In its native range, it can be used as a specimen, for privacy and as a windbreak.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No major losses from pests. Noble fir bark beetle (Pseudohylesinus nobilis) is often associated with root-diseased trees and can kill the tree. Dwarf mistletoe may be a problem requiring management action in some areas
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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- 'Glauca'
Blue cones
- 'Glauca'
- 'Glauca'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Glauca'
Blue cones
- 'Glauca'
- 'Glauca'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- procera
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood has been used to build airplanes. It is used in papermaking and construction
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- CA, OR, WA
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides cover and thermal protection for wildlife. Mammals eat the twigs and cones.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The cones are 4-8 inches, erect on the stem with purple scales that are nearly hidden by the green bract scales. Ripens to brown and disintegrates to release winged seeds in the fall.
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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 Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The needles are up to 1 inch long, glaucous blue-green above and below with longitudinal stripes, and a blunt to notched tip. They are arranged spirally on the shoot and slightly twisted to be curved above the shoot. The attachment is J-shaped.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- Young trees have smooth gray bark with resin blisters that becomes red-brown, rough and fissured as the tree ages,
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The twigs are reddish-brown with fine pubescent for several years. Covered with round, flat leaf scars when needles fall; buds small, rounded, brown and mostly non-resinous. End buds in clusters of three or more.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
