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| ## white fir {#white-fir .Title-Header}                               |
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| *Abies concolor* (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. Ex Hildebr.                  |
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| Plant Symbol = ABCO                                                   |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program*

![](media/image2.wmf){width="2.542361111111111in"
height="3.7909722222222224in"}

##### Uses

*Timber*: It is cut for lumber, boxes and crates, planning mill
products, sashes, doors, and general mill work and pulpwood. It is light
in weight, easy to work, and relatively free from splitting when nailed;
it holds nails only moderately well.

*Ornamental*: White fir makes an excellent Christmas tree for it has a
delightful aroma, retains its needles well after cutting, and has strong
sturdy branches that hold their shape. It is highly regarded as an
ornamental or specimen tree in colder, moister climates.

*Wildlife*: White fir seed is eaten by squirrels and other rodents.
Seedlings are often browsed extensively by deer. Porcupines will gnaw
the bark, and grouse will feed on the buds and needles. White fir makes
good winter roosting trees for grouse.

##### Status

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

*Abies concolor* (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr., white fir, is a
large forest tree from 60 to 200 feet in height that can live up to 300
years or more. Its leaves or needles are 2 to 3 inches long,
silvery-blue to silvery-green, extending at nearly right angles from all
sides of the twig or more or less obscurely 2-ranked; flattened,
stomatiferous above and below, rounded or acute at the apex. The upright
cones are 2 to 5 inches long, oblong, olive-green to purple; bracts
shorter than the scales, with short, broad erose shoulders, and
spikelike tips. The bark is 4 to 7 inches thick on old trunks, ashy gray
and divided by deep irregular furrows in thick, horny flattened ridges;
young stems with conspicuous resin blisters.

##### Adaptation and Distribution

White fir is found in areas characterized by a moderately humid climate
with long winters and moderate to heavy deposits of snow. It is found
principally where precipitation exceeds 20 inches; however, best
development is in areas where precipitation is 35 to 75 inches annually.
Most white fir is found at elevations of 4,000 to 10,000 feet along the
western Sierra Nevada. White fir grows on soils from a wide variety of
parent materials, including andesite, basalt, granite, pumice, sandstone
and shale. Deep and permeable soils are best for growth when supplied
with adequate moisture. Soils on which white fir is frequently found
include the Aiken,

Holland, Hugo, Olympic, Sheet Iron and Sites series. Most soils on which
white fir occurs are moderately to strongly acid, friable, granular and
clay loam.

White fir is distributed primarily throughout the western United States.
For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page
for this species on the PLANTS Website.

##### Establishment

White fir may be regenerated by natural seeding, direct seeded, or
planted. Cones begin to disintegrate and shed seeds in late September or
early October, and there is a good seed crop about every 2 to 5 years.
The seed germinates in the spring but usually less than 50 percent of
the seed germinate. White fir is generally rated as tolerant to very
tolerant of shade so that selective (partial) cutting tends to favor
this species. Initial growth rate is usually very slow up to about 30
years, then growth accelerates markedly. In planting white fir 2 to 4
year old stock is recommended. In direct seeding 10 to 15 seeds per spot
is recommended. To ensure adequate stocking of natural seedings, clear
cutting strips 130 to 200 feet wide or patches up to 250 feet across the
largest dimension is recommended. At least 10 seed trees per acre should
be left if larger areas are clear cut when adequate seedlings are not
present.

##### Management

On better sites fully stocked, unmanaged stands of white fir may yield
up to 150,000 board feet per acre at age 100. Thinning white fir stands
periodically will salvage trees which would be lost to natural
mortality. Pruning is not ordinarily recommended for white fir because
of its tendency for epicormic sprouting and unless the tree is being
grown for veneer or finish lumber, there is not need for this practice.

Young trees are easily killed by fire and must be protected from this
hazard. Young sapling and pole sized trees are subject to sunscald when
exposed suddenly, and thinnings should be light because of this. White
fir is more prone to windthrow than ponderosa pine because of its more
shallow, wide spreading root system, and care should be taken in partial
cuttings to leave buffer strips against the wind and to thin
conservatively.

White fir Christmas trees require 6 to 9 years to produce a 6 foot tree.
They need cultivation or other treatment to prevent excessive
competition from grass. Excessive leader growth will need to be
controlled by basal pruning, basal scarring or pruning of the terminal
shoot. Leader growth should be kept to about 12 inches.

##### Pests and Potential Problems

Some of the more important enemies of white fir are the spruce budworm,
Douglas-fir tussock moth, many different bark beetles, mistletoe and
heart rot fungi. Needle rusts may be a serious problem in producing
Christmas trees, and white fir is one of the conifers most sensitive to
sulphur dioxide.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

White pine seed can be purchased at most commercial seed sources in the
west. Seedlings can also be purchased from pine nurseries in the western
part of the country.

##### Prepared By & Species Coordinator: 

*USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program*

##### 

##### 31Jan2002 JLK; 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\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*