Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Silver Fir, Concolor Fir, Colorado Fir

Description:

One of the most beautiful and adaptable firs, but not for every location; avoid hot or dry sites; good bluish-white color and neat spire-like shape, excellent for articulation and color in the landscape

Ornamental Features

White Fir is primarily valued in the landscape for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has attractive silvery blue evergreen foliage. The needles are highly ornamental and remain silvery blue throughout the winter. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

White Fir is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.

White Fir is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent

Planting & Growing

White Fir will grow to be about 45 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America.