Content Detail

White fir is a hardy, ornamental, native North American evergreen. Its attractive, blue-green needles curve outward and upward on branches and, when crushed, emit a lemon scent. This choice plant tolerates a wide range of conditions, including drought, heat and cold temperatures. 

  • Family (English) Pine
  • Family (botanic) Pinaceae
  • Planting site Residential and parks
  • Tree or plant type Tree
  • Foliage Evergreen (foliage year-round)
  • Native locale North America
  • Size range Medium tree (25-40 feet), Large tree (more than 40 feet)
  • Mature height 30-50 feet
  • Mature width 15-20 feet
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Moist, Sandy soil, well-drained soil
  • Drought tolerance Moderately tolerant
  • Other tolerances Alkaline soil
  • Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late winter, early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, midsummer, late summer, early fall, mid fall, late fall
  • Flower color and fragrance Inconspicuous
  • Shape or form Pyramidal
  • Growth rate Slow
  • Transplants well Yes
  • Wildlife Browsers, Game birds, Nesting birds, Small mammals
  • Has cultivars Yes

More Information

Native Geographic Location and Habitat

White fir is found in mountainous areas in the southwestern United States.

Bark Color and Texture

The bark is gray and relatively smooth on young trees. It becomes irregularly furrowed into broad flat ridges on older trees.

Leaf Description

The evergreen needles are flat and attached singly to the stems. They are blue-green, 2 inches long, and curve outward and upward on the branches.

Flower Description

The flowers are inconspicuous. The male pollen cones are red to red-purple while the female flower cones are rose-red and found in the upper portion of the tree.

Fruit Description

The cones are erect, cylindrical and 4 to 5 inches long. Their color is pale green, turning purplish as they mature.

Care Knowledge

Plant Care

Do not plant white fir in heavy clay soil. Fir trees need very little pruning, but if pruning is needed, do it in spring.

Pests, Diseases, and Tolerances

White fir has no serious problems. It is tolerant of heat as well as cold temperatures.

Cultivars

Blue Cloak white fir: (Abies concolor ‘Blue Cloak’)

This cultivar has powder-blue needles that hang down.

Candicans white fir (Abies concolor ‘Candicans’)

This is a cultivar with intensely silver-blue needles.

Glenmore white fir: (Abies concolor ‘Glenmore’)

A more compact tree (30 feet high) with longer, blue-gray needles.

Wintergold white fir: (Abies concolor ‘Wintergold’)

The needles of this cultivar are yellow in winter and spring, turning dark green in summer.

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