Abies concolor
white fir

Notes:

Regular, symmetrical crown; holds shape and density well even with age. Needles smell of orange rind when crushed.

Consistently cited as the fir best suited for the East Coast humid climate, but still better at higher elevations. Intolerant of clay. Needs deep soil. Less disease-prone than Picea pungens.

Rutgers and UConn outnumber Cal Poly on deer resistance. Dirr & Warren claim fast growth (in particular, faster than P. pungens), but everyone else says the opposite, hence the "slow-growing" tag.

'Candicans' is densely pyramidal and may have the bluest needles of any fir.

Sources: White Oak, Sunset, Cal Poly, UFL, Rutgers, UConn, AHS, NCSU, Dirr & Warren, USDA, Druse.

Tags:

alkaline soil intolerant
aromatic foliage
aromatic twigs/bark
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
attracts:larval host
attracts:mammals
branches strong
compacted soil intolerant
deer sensitive
dense canopy
drought tolerant
exposure:full sun
exposure:part shade
fine texture
fire risk high
form:tree
habit:conical/pyramidal
litter:fruit
litter:minimal
long-lived
persistence:evergreen
pollution tolerant
pruning not required
roots:low damage potential
salt intolerant
sandy soil tolerant
slow-growing
type:conifer
use:bonsai
use:christmas tree
use:screen
use:specimen
water:moderate to little
water:regular
well-drained soil required
WON high-value plant


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