Subalpine Fir

Sub-Alpine Fir(Abies lasiocarpa) is easily Identified by its extremely narrow, spire like crown. They also have a very crisp, pungent smell. It is a general rule that the higher in elevation a tree grows, the narrower its crown. An obvious adaption to the higher snowfall at high elevation. And as its name implies, these trees only grow up high, usually above 7,500ft, to tree line(11,000ft).

In the southwest, the sub-alpine firs(Abies lasiocarpa var arizonica) are a little different in that they have more furrowed bark.

A young Sub-Alpine Fir(Abies lasiocarpa). If Englemann Spruce is the Queen of the sub-alpine forests of the Rockies, than Sub-Alpine Fir is the Princess. Smaller than Spruce, they more than make up for that with there wonderfully fragrant foliage, the strongest smelling conifer I know of. Notice the upright purple cones, characteristic of all true Firs(Abies)