Abies amabilis

Common Names

Pacific Silver Fir, Lovely Fir, Red Fir, Cascades Fir, White Fir, Amabilis Fir, Silver Fir, Sapin Gracieux

Summary

Pacific silver fir is a large evergreen conifer native to the Pacific Northwest, from Alaska through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon to northern California. It typically grows 30–45 m tall with a narrow, pyramidal crown and a trunk up to about 1.2 m in diameter; leaves are flat, dark green above with two white stomatal bands below, 2–4 cm long, giving a silvery underside, and bark is light gray on younger trees, darkening with age. Cones are erect and purple when immature, maturing brown; it is very shade-tolerant, often forming dense, moist forests in cool, humid climates.

Cultivation favors deep, moist, acidic to neutral, well-drained soils in cool, humid climates with abundant rainfall; grows best in full sun to partial shade and is drought sensitive. Uses include timber for pulp and framing and ornamental plantings in parks; it is occasionally used as a Christmas tree. It is susceptible to pests such as balsam woolly adelgid and certain root diseases, so site selection, health monitoring, and proper drainage are important.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

100-230 feet

Spread

16 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun, partial shade, and full shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil with pH about 5–6; tolerates all soil textures (sand, loam, and clay).

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soils

Soil pH

5.0-6.5

Bloom Color

Red, Yellow, and Silvery-white

Bloom Time

Spring (mid-May to mid-June)

Foliage Color

Dark green with a silvery underside

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color — evergreen; needles stay green year-round.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds, butterflies