White Fir

Orinda, California, United States

Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr.The usually upwardly pointing needles are sickle-shaped and like Subalpine fir, A. lasiocarpa, have an upper surface with a median white band and a lower surface with two lower bands separated by a midvein. The ends of the needles are usually blunt and not notched as in Subalpine fir, and not radially arranged. September 5, 2011, Wasatch Plateau, Huntington Canyon, near Huntingon Creek, northwestern corner of Emery County, Utah at approx. 7,185 ft. elev.

A young Abies concolor growing at about its lowest known elevation in northern Utah.The Flora of North America shows a lower limit of 1700 meters for this species. And it is most commonly known from midmontane to montane elevations. The Utah Flora series states a lower elevation range of 1525 m (5,000 ft.) for this species in Utah although that lower limit is also too high (and speaking of high, in Utah it is known from elevations as high as 3050 m, i.e. 10,000 ft.), There are records of this species occurring at much lower elevations in other states, principally in Oregon (in the 400 to 800 meter range).Growing here with Cercocarpus ledifolius (at far left), Quercus gambelii, and Artemisia tridentata (subsp. wyomingensis suspected). The gravels and large rocks are mostly associated with the granite-like Little Cottonwood igneous intrusive stock.Popular as Christmas trees, White fir should be more popularly used for landscaping at appropriate elevations which would include upper foothill locations as this natural space demonstrates.March 21, 2008, Sandy, Utah, elev. 5015 ft. (1530 m).

2013-01-12 Vienna, district III., Schweizergarten, cultivars - Excursion Fischer (198 msm Quadrant 7864/1).German name: Kolorado-Tanne (Colorado-Tanne)Native of Western Northern America, cultivated in parks, but also (not so often) in forests.

This relatively young (estimated to be about 30 feet tall) Abies concolor is so far the lowest elevation example that I have been able to find in our area, and is lower than reported in our floras (however see below). There were only two other trees of this species in the area, these much taller and fully mature.There is a record of a tree occurring at just over 4,000 ft. (1220 m) in southern Utah from San Juan Co. and also in Washington Co. at around 4,300 ft. (1310 m). So even the Utah Flora series reported lower limit of 1525 meters requires adjustment.There are however records of the species occurring at much lower elevation in other western states, principally in Oregon (in the 400 to 800 meter range). The Flora of North America reported lower limit of 1700 meters is inaccurate.June 25, 2009, Cottonwood Heights, Utah at 4850 ft. (1475 m).

2013-01-12 Vienna, district III., Schweizergarten, cultivars - Excursion Fischer (198 msm Quadrant 7864/1).German name: Kolorado-Tanne (Colorado-Tanne)

Young sap cover cones of a White Fir (Abies concolor).