Abies Concolor – White Fir

 

General Information

 

	Scientific Name		Abies Concolor
	Common Name		White Fir
	Plant Type		Upright needled evergreen
	Family		Pinaceae
	Native Region		Western US and Mexico
	Zone		3-7
	Height		40’-70’
	Bloom Time		Non-Flowering
	Sun Requirement		Full Sun to Part Shade
	Water Requirement		Moderate
	Tolerates		Long winters and some soil dryness

 

Description

 

White fir is an evergreen tree, featuring a narrow conical (cone shaped) form with soft and flat needles in a blue-green color.  The trees are conifer (cone-bearing), producing 3”-6” cones that start yellow-green then brown with age.  Trees typically grows 40’-70’ but can get up to 130’ in the wild.

 

Praised for its ornamental evergreen value for a “Christmas Tree” like appearance, white fir is most commonly used as a specimen (individual) tree in landscape design.

 

History

 

The Latin name Abies concolor comes from Pliny an Ancient Roman naturalist.  The tree is native to the Pacific cost of the United States as well as Mexico and can withstand cold dry mountain slopes with longer winters is areas of rich well-draining soil, such as the Rocky Mountains. 

 

Campus Information

 

Accession # 1-3

Abies Concolor, also known as White Fir, can be located at Ryder Hall, International Village Courtyard, and Curry Student Center (facing Robinson).  The White Fir located at the International Village Courtyard is a grouping of three trees under the same accession.