Abies alba: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe
Plant Profile: Abies alba
Taxonomy: Abies albaNames
Common Silver Fir, European Silver Fir, Silver Fir
Phonetic Spelling:AY-bees AL-ba
Genus:Abies
Species:alba
Family:Pinaceae
The Silver Fir is a sizable evergreen tree with needle-like leaves, belonging to the pine family. It thrives in the higher elevation forests of Europe and has become a favored choice for Christmas trees. Its striking silvery-white needles provide a unique visual contrast in the landscape; however, it's important to consider that this tree can grow quite large, so ensure you have adequate space for its full-grown size.
Tags
#evergreen
#silver leaves
#conifer
#needled evergreen
#evergreen tree
#Christmas tree
#woodlands
Similar Plants
Abies alba is often confused with:
Abies alba Feature Summary
Attributes
Perennial
Woody
Fruit
No fruits. This plant has erect cones which are 4"-7" long 1"-2" wide with 100-200 scales containing two winged seeds. Cones start out bronze-green and disintegrate as they turn dark brown at maturity.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
> 3 inches
1-3 inches
Flowers
No flowers
Leaves
This plant has "leaves" that are needle-like, flattened 3/4"-1" long, and 0.8" wide with a notch at the tip. Needles are spaced regularly along branches in two groups pointing toward the branch tip. There are two stomatal lines on the underside. Needles appear white or silver when viewed from afar.
Needled Evergreen
Green
Gray/Silver
White
Needles
Whorled
< 1 inch
Glossy
< 1 inch
Bark
The bark is dark gray and smooth with resin blisters and square plates when mature. The stems are scaly though.
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Scaly
Smooth
Square
Stem
The stems are gray with a scaly texture. The older stems are brown, rough and pubescent.
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Hairy (pubescent)
Straight
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Tree
Needled Evergreen
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
more than 60 feet
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
Abies alba Image Gallery
Abies alba Attributes
Abies alba: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Abies alba Fruit
Abies alba: Fruit Description
No fruits. This plant has erect cones which are 4"-7" long 1"-2" wide with 100-200 scales containing two winged seeds. Cones start out bronze-green and disintegrate as they turn dark brown at maturity.
Abies alba: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Red/Burgundy
Abies alba: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Abies alba: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Abies alba Flowers
Abies alba: Flower Description
No flowers
Abies alba Leaves
Abies alba: Leaf Description
This plant has "leaves" that are needle-like, flattened 3/4"-1" long, and 0.8" wide with a notch at the tip. Needles are spaced regularly along branches in two groups pointing toward the branch tip. There are two stomatal lines on the underside. Needles appear white or silver when viewed from afar.
Abies alba: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abies alba: Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
White
Abies alba: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Abies alba: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Abies alba: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Abies alba: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Abies alba: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Abies alba: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Abies alba Bark
Abies alba: Bark Description
The bark is dark gray and smooth with resin blisters and square plates when mature. The stems are scaly though.
Abies alba: Bark Color
Dark Gray
Light Gray
Abies alba: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Abies alba: Bark Plate Shape
Diamond
Irregular
Oval
Rectangle
Round
Square
Abies alba Stem
Abies alba: Stem Description
The stems are gray with a scaly texture. The older stems are brown, rough and pubescent.
Abies alba: Stem Color
Brown/Copper
Gray/Silver
Abies alba: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Abies alba: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Abies alba: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Abies alba Whole Plant Traits
Abies alba: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Abies alba: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Abies alba Cultural Conditions
Abies alba: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Abies alba: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Abies alba: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Abies alba: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Abies alba: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
