About Colorado Fir, Abies concolor

Colorado Fir, Abies concolor (Gord & Glend) Lindl. ex Hildrbr.

Common Names: California White Fir, Rocky Mountain White Fir, Siver Fir, White Fir

State List: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MA, ME,
NM, NV, OR, UT, WY

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Sources:

A Natural History of North American Trees, by Donald Culross Peattier © 2007 by Houghton Mifflin Company p. 128

The Wise Garden Encyclopedia- Grosset & Dunlap, Inc., New York, NY ©1970 by Wm. H. Wise & Co., Inc., p. 481

Trees of North America- A guide to field identification-a Golden Field Guide from St. Martin's Press © 2002 By C. Frank Brockman p.30

USDA, NRCS. 2011. The PLANTS Database (<http://plants.usda.gov/>, 22 August 2011). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

USDA NRCS, The PLANTS Database Fact Sheet fs_abco(1).docx

Zouhar, Kris 2001. Abies concolor. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2011, August 22].

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Abies concolor is native to the western half of the United states as well as in Maine and Massachusetts

Growing 125-150 feet in height and 2-4 feet in diameter, this native evergreen conifer can live over 300 years. The irregular crown has the typical pyramidal shape expected of fir trees and when grown in most soils, it will retain its dense lower branches. A shallow root system supports a single trunk encased in whorls of branches. The needles of Abies concolor are are deep bluish-green but are the lightest of all nine native firs, with new growth lighter still. Flat and blunt to pointed at the tips, the needles are 2-3 inches long, in ranks of 2, extend at a right angle out from the twig and have silvery bands called stomata running the length of both the top and under surfaces. Oblong and upright, the cones

are yellowish green to purplish brown, 3-5 inches long, and each scale is tipped with a prickle. The seeds are brown and inconspicuous reddish flowers bloom in late spring. When young, Colorado Firs have smooth light gray trunks, which are covered in resinous vesicles, but with age the bark darkens and becomes harder, thicker, and deeply ridged. Although, as a slow growing tree species, the bark is

Rare in Montana and Wyoming

Upright cones of Colorado fir perch near the branch tips

Needles and foliage of Abies concolor
Photo citation: © 1995 Saint Mary's College of California,
Brother Alfred Brousseau

more often a blend between the two stages of development.

Habitat

Colorado fir has the widest native range of all western firs and may be found throughout the western half of United States with isolated populations in Maine and Massachusetts. Abies concolor is typical to drier soils with medium to coarse texture, however, it will retain more of its lower foliage on moist sites. This conifer prefers areas with long humid winters and heavy snowfall and only needs 80 frost free day a year. Although this native tree species is moderately drought tolerant, Colorado Fir requires 18 to 80 inches of rain annually and will attain best growth with rainfall between 35 to 75 inches. Abies concolor tends to grow on mountain slopes but at lower elevations than most others in the Abies genus.

Pests, Disease and Elements

Needle rusts are the most serious disease risk to Colorado Fir, however it is also susceptible to heart rot fungus. Insect pests include bark beetles and spruce budworms and Abies concolor is one of the many hosts for mistletoe. It is also sensitive to sunlight and will scald if suddenly exposed. Care should be taken when pruning to avoid injury. Colorado Fir is also sensitive to sulphur dioxide and is therefore not suited to areas with high levels of air pollution.

Propagation

The small brown seeds require cold stratification and it may be propagated by bareroot, by container,

by cuttings or seeds. Cuttings may be grown with or without hormones.

Uses

The fragrant Colorado Fir is probably most familiar as a Christmas tree where it is prized for its superior needle retention after cutting. It is also popular as a landscaping tree, growing well in environments with more shade than other species and is commonly found in nurseries. Additional uses include lumber products, veneer and pulpwood.

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