Sheffield's Seed Company Page

Abies concolor ssp. concolor, also known as the Concolor Fir or White Fir, is a beautiful tree that is highly recommended for zones 5 and 6. It is a popular choice as an ornamental landscaping tree and as a Christmas Tree. This tree is intermediate between the Arizona and Colorado sources, making it slightly bluer than Colorado and a little more cold hardy than Arizona. The crushed leaves have a strong lemony scent, making it a favorite for those who love scented trees. This species grows well in heavy clay soils and prefers a good moist but not water-logged soil. The trees are also very shade tolerant, although growth is slower in dense shade. This tree is intolerant of atmospheric pollution and prefers slightly acidic conditions down to a pH of about 5. The cones of the White Fir are barrel-shaped, and release their winged seeds when the cones disintegrate at maturity about 6 months after pollination. This tree is very ornamental, producing a spire-like crown with a straight trunk, and grows up to 130-150 feet in height and 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Its leaves are bluish-green when young, turning dull green with age. The bark on younger trees is thin, smooth, and gray with numerous resin-bearing pockets, while older bark is thicker, reddish-brown to light gray, and broken into irregular flattened scales. White Fir is an excellent ornamental tree widely planted in the eastern United States and Canada, and the wood has been used for pulpwood, lumber, furniture, boxes, and crates.