Abies concolor                              Pinaceae

White Fir, Silver Fir, Colorado Fir                        AY-beez KON-kul-er

• Conifer, evergreen, 30-50 ft (9-15 m) high, conical and branched to base, upper branches tend to point upward whereas lower branches are horizontal or directed down.  Leaves (needles) curve outwards and upwards on branches, 3.8-6.5 long and 2 mm wide, flattened, light green to green to bluish, glaucous (wax) on both sides and more or less giving a bluish cast (concolor: uniform color, refers to both needle surfaces); in heavy shade, needles may show a "flatter" distribution.  Cones erect, stalked, 8-13 cm long, pale green with a purplish bloom, finally brown.
• Sun.  Best in deep, rich, moist, well-drained soil, poor on heavy clay. Withstands heat, drought, and cold.  A good fir for the east and midwest.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 3       Native to Colorado, southern Oregon to southern California and Mexico.   Note: recent evidence indicates that the apparent Abies concolor found in Oregon forests are actually a hybrid between Abies concolor and Abies grandis, Grand Fir, and are now designated as Abies concolor × grandis.
• Oregon State Univ. campus: east side of Peavy, small tree in heavy shade.