White Fir

White Fir (Abies concolor)

White Fir is a rugged western North American evergreen with soft, long blue-green needles and a naturally symmetrical, pyramidal form; it offers four-season color and strong structure where summers are dry and winters are cold.

Distinctive Features

Silvery blue to blue-green needles (often citrus-scented when crushed) clothe layered branches, while upright cones and a persistent central leader create a formal, spire-like silhouette.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for best color and density; tolerates light, open shade in cool climates.
• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soils; prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions and dislikes waterlogging.
• Water: Even moisture during establishment; afterward, deep, occasional irrigation in extended dry spells.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7.
• Mature Size: Typically 40 to 70 ft tall and 20 to 30 ft wide in cultivation.
• Soil pH: About 5.5 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Tall, symmetrical spire anchors large lawns and entries.
• Windbreak/Screen: Dense evergreen branching provides year-round shelter.
• Dry-Climate Accent: Better heat and drought tolerance than many firs once established.
• Wildlife Value: Cones and cover support birds and small mammals.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Maintain steady moisture the first 2 to 3 years; water deeply but infrequently during drought.
• Pruning: Minimal; preserve the central leader and remove only dead or crossing limbs in late winter.
• Fertilizing: Light spring feeding for evergreens if growth is weak; avoid excess nitrogen.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 in of shredded bark to conserve moisture, cool roots, and reduce weeds.
• Notes: Provide good air flow and drainage; monitor for adelgids and bark beetles and avoid poorly drained, humid sites.

Why Choose White Fir?

• Blue-Green Color: Silvery needles provide high-contrast, four-season appeal.
• Drought Resilience: Handles dry summers better than many conifers once established.
• Formal Habit: Naturally pyramidal structure needs little shaping.
• Landscape Versatility: Performs as specimen, screen, or native-style evergreen.

Select White Fir for durable, blue-green architecture in sunny, well-drained sites with periodic deep watering.