Abiesconcolor_info.html

Abies concolor (White fir): Information.
Identifying characteristics: White firs are large, densely-growing, narrow trees with a dome-shaped crown, usually growing to 50 ft or more, with a stem diameter of 2 to 4 ft. The 2- to 3-inch-long flattened, curved leaves are loosely 2-ranked and yellow-green (when young) to blue-green. Leaves are without petioles and have circular leaf bases. Stomates occur on both leaf surfaces, and the leaf tip may be rounded or pointed. The 3- to 5-inch cones are upright, slightly pointed at the tip and are greenish-yellow becoming dark purple. The cone scales are deciduous at maturity and the bracts are shorter than the scales with eroded shoulders and a spike-like tip. The bark on young trees is thin, gray and smooth with numerous resin blisters. In older trees the bark is 4 to 7 inches thick and ashy-gray, with deeply divided, irregular furrows and wide ridges. Similar species: Ecology: Distribution: Abies concolor is native to the mountainous regions of the western United States, growing at low to middle elevations on northerly-exposed ridges and slopes. Habitat: It is the most drought-resistant of all native firs and although it can exist on poor, dry sites, it grows most vigorously in moist, well-drained, acid soils in protected locations. Bark beetles often attack these trees, sometimes fatally, although needle rusts and dwarf mistletoe are the more serious diseases. Insect pests and diseases can attack the top of the tree with detrimental effects on cone production. Uses: Wood: The wood, like all firs, is soft and coarse-grained and therefore most suitable for pulp, boxes and crates. Because the wood lacks an odor, it is also used to make tubs for storing butter. Wildlife: Blacktail and mule deer feed on the leaves and buds in winter while porcupines feed on the bark. Douglas pine squirrels harvest the seeds from cones and grouse eat fallen seeds. Horticulture: A. concolor is an important horticultural plant in the eastern states and it is commonly planted in Canada because of its attractive foliage, moderately fast growth, hardiness, and drought and shade tolerance. The root system is usually shallow which makes this tree easy to transplant but also easily damaged by soil compaction and grading. The blue-gray foliage compliments the more somber evergreens and various cultivars provide a variety of growth habits: 'Globosa' is a dwarf, low growing cultivar, 'Conica' produces a cone-shaped bush and 'Pendula' has a weeping habit. This tree has a slow growth rate for the first 25 to 30 years, but is then comparable or even faster than its associated species. Seed reproduction is abundant and aggressive and tree maturity is reached at 300 years.

Abies concolor (White fir): Information.

Identifying characteristics:
White firs are large, densely-growing, narrow trees with a dome-shaped crown, usually growing to 50 ft or more, with a stem diameter of 2 to 4 ft. The 2- to 3-inch-long flattened, curved leaves are loosely 2-ranked and yellow-green (when young) to blue-green. Leaves are without petioles and have circular leaf bases. Stomates occur on both leaf surfaces, and the leaf tip may be rounded or pointed. The 3- to 5-inch cones are upright, slightly pointed at the tip and are greenish-yellow becoming dark purple. The cone scales are deciduous at maturity and the bracts are shorter than the scales with eroded shoulders and a spike-like tip. The bark on young trees is thin, gray and smooth with numerous resin blisters. In older trees the bark is 4 to 7 inches thick and ashy-gray, with deeply divided, irregular furrows and wide ridges.

Similar species:

Ecology:
Distribution: Abies concolor is native to the mountainous regions of the western United States, growing at low to middle elevations on northerly-exposed ridges and slopes.

Habitat: It is the most drought-resistant of all native firs and although it can exist on poor, dry sites, it grows most vigorously in moist, well-drained, acid soils in protected locations. Bark beetles often attack these trees, sometimes fatally, although needle rusts and dwarf mistletoe are the more serious diseases. Insect pests and diseases can attack the top of the tree with detrimental effects on cone production.

Uses:
Wood: The wood, like all firs, is soft and coarse-grained and therefore most suitable for pulp, boxes and crates. Because the wood lacks an odor, it is also used to make tubs for storing butter.

Wildlife: Blacktail and mule deer feed on the leaves and buds in winter while porcupines feed on the bark. Douglas pine squirrels harvest the seeds from cones and grouse eat fallen seeds.

Horticulture: A. concolor is an important horticultural plant in the eastern states and it is commonly planted in Canada because of its attractive foliage, moderately fast growth, hardiness, and drought and shade tolerance. The root system is usually shallow which makes this tree easy to transplant but also easily damaged by soil compaction and grading. The blue-gray foliage compliments the more somber evergreens and various cultivars provide a variety of growth habits: 'Globosa' is a dwarf, low growing cultivar, 'Conica' produces a cone-shaped bush and 'Pendula' has a weeping habit. This tree has a slow growth rate for the first 25 to 30 years, but is then comparable or even faster than its associated species. Seed reproduction is abundant and aggressive and tree maturity is reached at 300 years.