Abies concolor

Common Names

White Fir, Concolor Fir, Colorado Fir, Balsam Fir, White Balsam, Silver Fir

Summary

White fir is a native evergreen conifer of western North America with a pyramidal to conical crown; soft blue-green needles up to 2–3 inches long arranged flat along the stems with two white lines underneath, and upright cones 3–6 inches long; it grows slowly to a typical mature height of 25–60 meters, and serves as a specimen, windbreak, or evergreen screen in landscapes.

It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils that are slightly acidic to neutral; hardy in zones 3–7 and, once established, is drought-tolerant; young plants require regular irrigation and propagation is by seed with 4–8 weeks of stratification; transplanting is relatively easy and pruning is rarely needed, mainly to maintain a pyramidal shape; uses include ornamental year-round greenery, Christmas trees, windbreaks, and privacy screens; potential pests include balsam twig aphids, scale, and fir engraver beetle, and diseases such as needle rust and root rot.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

40-50 feet

Spread

15-30 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun to partial shade, partial shade during establishment and full sun after establishment

Soil Type

Deep, well-drained loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (approximately 5.0–7.0).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

No specific ideal pH; tolerant of a wide range of soil pH.

Bloom Color

Red, purple, or green

Bloom Time

Spring (May–June; sometimes into July at higher elevations)

Foliage Color

Blue-green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; 1–1.5 ft per season

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds