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National Plant Data Center
WHITE FIR
Abies concolor (Gord. &
Glend.) Lindl. ex. Hildebr.
Plant Symbol = ABCO
Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data
Center
Alternate Names
Abies grandis var. concolor, balsam fir, Colorado
white fir, Picea concolor, Pinus concolor, silver fir,
and white balsam. There are two varieties of white
fir, sometimes recognized as separate varieties and
sometimes grouped under the white fir blanket. They
are Rocky Mountain fir (Abies concolor var.
concolor) and California white fir (Abies concolor
var. lowiana, also known as Sierra white fir).
Uses
Ethnobotanic: Native Americans used white fir for
medicine, building material, and for making
household items. The needles were used to relieve
pain caused by rheumatism and pulmonary ailments.
The resin was used to heal cuts, sores, and boils and
was also decocted for the treatment of venereal
diseases. Bark infusions were used to remedy
tuberculosis.
Bark was used to dye buckskin a tan color. Branches
were used to line storage containers and to make pipe
stems. The plant was used to decorate ceremonies
and houses.
Ornamental: White fir is a popular species in the
Christmas tree industry. It is drought and heat
resistant and is often used for plantings in the rural
and suburb landscapes of the northern United States.
Mark Brand. 2001. The University of
Connecticut Plant Database
Rehabilitation: White fir is used to revegetate
disturbed forest sites where it naturally occurs. It is
also an appropriate choice for use on roadcuts due to
its ability to stabilize soil.
Wildlife: White fir habitats are included in the
summer and winter ranges of deer, elk, and bear.
Mountain beaver habitat use has been correlated to
white fir abundance. Many bird species, including
bald eagle, northern spotted owl, brown creeper, and
red-breasted nuthatches are associated with white fir
habitat types.
Mule deer and black-tailed deer browse new foliage
in the spring. Porcupines consume white fir bark and
can destroy saplings. Mice eat snow-level suckers in
the winter while pocket gophers eat seedlings in the
winter and fall. Blue grouse consume the needles.
Grouse, chipmunks, mice, flying squirrels,
chickadees, crossbills, and Clark’s nutcracker
consume white fir seeds. The Douglas squirrel
caches white fir cones during late summer and fall.
Hollowed-out trunks provide protection and shelter
for many small mammals including weasels,
porcupines, and black bears.
Wood Products: White fir wood is used for all-
purpose construction materials like framing,
plywood, and pulpwood. Its straight grain makes the
wood appropriate for use as poles and pilings. White
fir is also used for firewood although it does not
produce much heat.
Legal Status
Rocky Mountain white fir (Abies concolor var.
concolor) is protected in Nevada as a Christmas tree.
Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State
Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s
current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species,
state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).
Description
General: Pine Family (Pinaceae). White fir is a large
coniferous tree, growing up to 55 m tall and having a
dbh of up to 1 to 2 m, depending on location. The
bark is smooth, whitish-gray, and occasionally
blistered with resin vesicles, becoming thick, hard
and irregularly furrowed with age. The crown tends
to be symmetrical and dome-shaped, although the
varieties of white fir may exhibit differences in
crown shape. California white fir has a cylindrical
crown while Rocky Mountain white fir has a broader
crown. Branches are short and stout, arranged in
whorls of 4 or 5. Buds are blunt. Leaves (needles)
are 3-7 cm long, loosely 2-ranked, rounded at the
ends, and curved upward. A waxy covering give the
needles a bluish cast. Needles also have two white
lines on their undersides. Cone production varies by
site, tree size, and age. White fir trees begin cone
production at about 40 years and bear cones at the
upper third of the crown. Cones are 10-13 cm long,
greenish-yellow becoming dark purple, produce
about 185-295 seeds each, and shatter upon maturity.
The seeds are released in the fall and germinate in the
spring.
Key characteristics of white fir include the similar
coloring on both upper and undersides of the needles,
smooth bark with resin blisters, long needles (in
comparison to other fir species), resinous buds,
circular leaf scars, and a citrus odor that is released
when the needle is broken.
Morphological and chemical characters, such as
needle tip shape, stomatal arrangement, and terpene
content, separate the two white fir varieties.
Distribution: White fir is native to the western
United States, from Idaho, south through Colorado
and New Mexico, and west through California and
Oregon. The Great Basin creates the gap between the
varieties. Rocky Mountain white fir occurs in the
central portion of the white fir range, from
southeastern California, Arizona, and New Mexico to
southeastern Idaho and Colorado. It has also been
planted in the New England states. California white
fir occurs from central California into western
portions of Nevada and southwest Oregon. It has
been reported in southern California, although there
is no confirmation that these plants are not the Rocky
Mountain variety.
For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web
site.
Habitat: In the mixed conifer forests of California
and southern Oregon, white fir may form pure stands
or share dominance with species such as incense-
cedar, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, sugar pine,
Jeffrey pine, and Douglas pine. It is also a secondary
species in subalpine woodlands represented by
whitebark pine, limber pine, mountain hemlock,
lodgepole pine, western white pine and foxtail pine.
California white fir is one of the coniferous
dominants of the California hardwood forests. In the
mixed-conifer forest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
it may share dominance with incense cedar,
ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and Douglas fir. The
mesic sites at upper elevations of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains are referred to as the white fir zone.
Within the Cascade Range of northern California and
central Oregon, the white fir zone occurs at
elevations above 1500 m. It is the dominant species,
having 18 known associations with species like
lodgepole pine, western serviceberry, mountain
hemlock and Pacific rhododendron. It is also found
within mixed conifer stands at mid-elevations.
White fir is an indicator species of the lower
elevation limit of montane forest vegetation in the
Klamath Mountains of California and Oregon. At
higher elevations, white fir shares dominance with
red fir. In the mountain ranges of southern
California, white fir becomes the dominant species at
higher elevations. It is associated with sugar pine,
incense cedar, and western juniper.
The white fir series in the major mountain ranges in
the southwest can have any mixture of white fir with
Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, blue spruce,
subalpine fir, ponderosa pine, and southwestern white
pine. It is a dominant or climax species of several
habitat types and series in Arizona, New Mexico,
Utah, and Colorado.
In Utah, white fir occurs throughout the higher
mountain ranges of the northwestern region and
increases in importance through southern Utah. It
occurs in subalpine zones with Engelmann spruce
and blue spruce in the Douglas fir series and
ponderosa pine habitat types.
In southern Colorado and northern New Mexico,
white fir is a co-climax species with Douglas fir and
is associated with blue spruce, limber pine, ponderosa
pine, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, quaking
aspen, and Rocky Mountain juniper. The white fir-
Douglas fir-pondersoa pine series is the most
widespread and one of the most varied types in
Arizona and New Mexico. In mixed conifer forests,
dominated by the white fir-gambel oak habitat type,
white fir shares climax status with Douglas fir. Other
associates include Chihuahua pine, Rocky Mountain
lodgepole pine, Mexican pinyon, and New Mexico
locust.
White fir is widespread in riparian areas of Utah,
Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. It
is associated with boxelder and narrowleaf
cottonwood in Utah, blue spruce and lodgepole pine
in Wyoming, and with blue spruce, cottonwood
species, and Rocky Mountain maple in Colorado,
Arizona, and New Mexico. More detailed habitat
descriptions can be found in Zouhar (2001).
Adaptation
The USDA hardiness zones of white fir range from 3
to 7. It occurs at varied elevations, ranging from 900
m to over 3000 m. Annual precipitation varies
among white fir sites from 350 mm to 1240 mm.
White fir tends to occupy more mesic sites at lower
elevations and more xeric sites at upper elevations. It
grows on acidic soil, most types of parent material,
and is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions,
nutrient availability, and pH. It grows best on
moderately deep and well-drained sandy- or clay-
loam soils. It is moderately sensitive to excess soil
moisture and is less tolerant of shade compared to
associated true firs. Dense shade will decrease the
growth rate, but will not kill the tree.
Establishment
Germination and early growth are best if seeds have
fallen on bare mineral soil before the permanent
snow cover has fallen. Root systems are longer,
heavier, and have more mycorrhizal root tips if
grown in bare mineral soil. Seedlings are best
established in partial shade, but can also establish in
dense shade. Once established, it grows best in full
sun.
Management
White fir is easily killed by fire. Low branches
provide a ladder for understory fire to reach the
canopy. Prescribed burning is recommended if pure
stands of white fir are not desired and to reduce fuel
loading. Burns will promote suckering of other tree
species so that pure stands of white fir will not form.
White fir can be managed for timber harvest.
Shelterwood methods have the best regeneration
results. Some overstory removal provides enough
light for white fir regeneration, but also provides
enough shade to prevent the regeneration of other
species. Many white fir stands have been managed
using even-aged management techniques.
Mycorrhizal associations are important to the growth
and health of white fir. Bare mineral soils promote
these associations that aid in establishment on poor
sites.
Lack of management in white fir stands may increase
the trees’ chances of susceptibility to insect pests and
diseases.
Pests and Potential Problems
Dwarf mistletoe is a common pest of white fir. The
parasitic plants germinate on white fir branches and
force their roots into the phloem of the host branch.
Dwarf mistletoe weakens the tree and leaves it
susceptible to fungal infections and insect attacks. It
also creates stem cankers that leave the wood weak
and unsuitable for use as lumber.
Wounding, as a result of mechanical injuries, fire,
insects, or frost cracks, promotes or provides entrance
for fungi into white fir trees. Annosus, Armillaria,
laminated root diseases, yellow cap fungus, Indian
paint fungus, and white pocket rot reduce plant
productivity and cause wood decay and mortality.
Fungal infections also promote susceptibility to
insect infestations.
The fir engraver beetle (Scolytus ventralis), a
member of the bark beetle family, causes high
mortality in white fir stands. The beetle bores holes
into the main stem, often in bark crevices at the
branch and trunk junctions. Once under the bark,
adults engrave egg galleries into the sapwood,
disrupting the flow of water and nutrients to that
portion of the plant. The appearance of yellowed or
reddened branches on an otherwise green tree is early
evidence of fir engraver infestation. Fir engravers
can kill the plant. The only known preventative is
proper maintenance of white fir trees.
White fir in shallow soils can be damaged by strong
winds. The chances of windthrow are increased
when neighboring trees are removed.
Seeds and Plant Production
White fir is produced by seeds. Seeds are ready for
collection when the cone easily breaks apart. A cold
stratification period up to 60 days is required.
Germination will occur under an alternating
temperature cycle of 30oC daytime and 20oC
nighttime temperatures.
White fir is easily transplanted, although it is
somewhat sensitive to being transplanted in autumn.
If planted in autumn, care should be taken to fertilize,
thoroughly water, adequately mulch, amend the soil,
and avoid winter salt spray. These care practices will
enhance the chances for survival during the first
winter.
Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and
area of origin)
The USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program has not
released white fir cultivars for conservation use.
Ornamental cultivars are somewhat available from
commercial growers in ball and burlap form:
‘Blue Cloak’
‘Blue Globe’
‘Blue Select’
‘Candicans’
‘Compacta’
‘Conica’
‘Dwarf Blue’
‘Gables Weeping’
‘Glenmore’
‘Nana’
‘Sherwood Blue’
‘Winter Gold’
References
Agricultural Research Center. 2004. GRIN taxonomy
(http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/index, 29
June 2004). USDA, Beltsville.
Aldworth, S.J. 1998. Abies concolor.
(http://project.bio.iastate.edu/trees/campustree/ISU_tr
ees.html, 29 June 2004). Iowa State University,
Ames.
Baskin, C.J., J.M. Baskin. 2001. Propagation
protocol for production of container Abies concolor
(G&G) Lindl. plants. (http://www.nativeplant
network.org, 29 June 2004). College of Natural
Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow.
Brand, M. 2001. University of Connecticut plant
database (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/, 29
June 2004). University of Connecticut, Storrs.
Earle, C.J. 2004. Gymnosperm database
(http://www.conifers.org/index.htm, 29 June 2004).
Department of Botany, University of Bonn,
Germany.
Heatley, R. 1999. Ornamental plants plus, Version
3.0
(http://www.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/masterzz.html
, 29 June 2004). Michigan State University
Extension, East Lansing.
Rhodes, T. 2002. PlantFacts database
(http://plantfacts.osu.edu/, 29 June 2004). The Ohio
State University, Columbus.
Virginia Tech Forestry Department. 2003.
Dendrology tree fact sheets
(http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/factsheets.
cfm, 29 June 2004). Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University, Blacksburg.
Zouhar, K. 2001. Abies concolor.
(http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/, 29 June 2004).
Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest
Service, Missoula.
Prepared By:
Sarah Wennerberg
USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Species Coordinator:
Mark Skinner
USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Edited: 4Aug2004 sbw, 13Oct2004 rln; 24may06jsp
For more information about this and other plants, please contact
your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the
PLANTS Web site or the Plant Materials
Program Web site
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