WHITE FIR

Abies concolor 'Candicans'

COLLECTION

Four Seasons Garden Walk

FAMILY

Pinaceae

PLANT TYPE

Tree, Conifer

ZONE

3-7

CULTURE

Grows in full sun to part shade in rich, moist, sandy soil with good drainage. It is adaptable to poor soil and can tolerate some drought after established.

NOTEWORTHY CHARACTERISTICS

The White Fir, also known as the Colorado Fir, is medium in size, slow growing, evergreen with soft blueish or silver-gray needles.  Native to the western United States, it can grow 40 to 70 feet tall and spread 20 to 30 feet in the residential landscape.

PROBLEMS

No serious insect or disease problems but can be affected by balsam woolly adelgid, bark beetles, spruce budworms, aphids, bagworm, scale, spider mites, root rot, needle rust, and twig blight.

GARDEN USES

The White Fir is a large ornamental tree that has winter interest. It is used as a specimen in landscapes.

HISTORY

Because the wood lacks a distinctive odor, white firs were once used for tubs in which butter was stored.