Native Conifers of North America - Abies concolor

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Photographer: Charles Webber Courtesy of: CalFlora Database Photographer: Charles Webber Courtesy of: CalFlora Database

White Fir (Abies concolor Lindl. ex Hildebr.) Identifying Characters: The light blue-green or glaucous needles, arranged in two rows, and the hidden brachts in the cone will usually identify this species. Similar Species: Found below the timberline range of Subalpine Fir and the needles are flat, not fat and angulate as in Subalpine Fir; the difference in needle shape will also separate this species from California Red Fir. Other similar species do not occur with White Fir. Measurements: Mature trees 70-160 feet in height, 1.5 to 4 feet in diameter. Cones: Cones 3 to 5 inches long, purple, green, or yellow; cone scales finely hairy; brachts small, hidden by the scales. Needles: Light blue-green or glaucous with white lines on both surfaces; needles flat, arranged in two rows, arising from the sides of the twig and curving upward. Bark: Becoming very thick at the base of older trees and divided into irregularly shaped plate-like scales. Native Range: The native range of white fir extends from the mountainous regions of the Pacific coast to central Colorado, and from central Oregon and southeastern Idaho to northern Mexico. (Silvics of North America. 1990. Agriculture Handbook 654.) Habitat: A montane species in areas of drier soils than is typical of most fir species. To Learn More About White Fir Visit: Silvics of North America, U.S. Forest Service. Climate-Vegetation Atlas, U.S. Geological Survey. CalFlora Database. Flora of North America. Gymnosperm Database. This link will open in a separate window. To return to Nearctica, close the current window or chose the Nearctica window from the buttons at the bottom of your brower.

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