Return to Native Trees of the Southern Rocky Mountains

The White Fir is found in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, south of about the 40th parallel of latitude, at elevations typical of Subalpine fir and a little lower, from 7500 to 11000 feet. It can become a handsome tree with a silver-green crown, much wider than the Subalpine fir crown.

White fir can grow on poor dry sites, but does best in moist settings. Young trees require shade and ample mositure to survive. Seldom found in pure stands, it is usually mixed with montane and subalpine trees, especially Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and Blue spruce. In open stands foliage may extend to the ground, while if crowded together the trunk may be clear for one-half or two-thirds of its height. It lives to 350 years. The maximum size is about 100 feet tall and 3 feet trunk diameter. In the Rockies the maximum typical trunk diamter is 15 inches or a little more.

The seeds are eaten by grouse, chipmunks, and pine squirrels, and young foliage is browsed by deer and mountain sheep. The wood is used for construction lumber and plywood. The trees are used for ornamental plantings and Christmas trees.

The scientific name is Abies concolor; concolor means the color is uniform.

Identifying features of White Fir

Needles

Single, flattened, soft, 1 3/4 to 3 inches long on lower branches and 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches on fertile upper branches, sometimes curved, and pointed or notched at the apex. Whitish on both sides with double parallel white lines on lower side. Usually one quarter to one third longer than needles on Subalpine fir. Color silver-blue, pale green or blue-green, becoming dull green. Usually spread out from the sides of twig horizontally rather than in all directions.

Cones

Mature cones, found in the upper part of the tree, are upright blunt rounded cylinders, grayish-green, yellow-green, or purple, and 3 to 5 inches high, which disintegrate at maturity (after one season), the scales falling from the tree and an upright spike remaining two to three years.

Bark

Smooth, thin, grey bark with horizontal resin blisters on young trees. On mature trees becomes thick (4 to 7 inches) and deeply furrowed into hard wide ridges and plates, and ash gray.