• Photo of Abies lasiocarpa (Abies lasiocarpas)

Plant Profile: Abies lasiocarpa

Taxonomy: Abies lasiocarpa

Names

Alpine Fir, Mountain Balsam Fir, Pino Real Blanco de las Sierras, Rocky Mountain Fir, Subalpine Fir, Western Balsam Fir, White Balsam Fir

  • Photo of Abies lasiocarpa (Abies lasiocarpas)

Phonetic Spelling:AY-bees las-ee-oh-KAR-pah

Genus:Abies

Species:lasiocarpa

Family:Pinaceae

This tree is medium to large in size, characterized by a slender crown and dense, short branches that droop gracefully. It thrives best in a cool, moist environment, particularly at higher elevations in the Pacific Northwest. The wood produced by this species is soft, white, and prone to rapid decay. It plays a crucial role in establishing forests in challenging and disturbed areas, offering shelter that aids in landscape rehabilitation and watershed protection. Found in forests located in regions with high water yield across the western United States, this tree is vital for effective water management and conservation efforts.

For optimal results, bare root transplanting is advised.

Abies lasiocarpa Feature Summary

Abies lasiocarpa Image Gallery

Tags

#purple
#evergreen
#full sun tolerant
#green
#cones
#large tree
#blue needles
#slow growing
#pyramidal
#white bark
#tree
#alpine
#blue-green leaves

Similar Plants

Abies lasiocarpa Feature Summary

Attributes
The wood of this plant is used for construction of boxes, doors, poles, frames, and fuel. Small trees are commonly used as Christmas trees.
Alaska to Southern New Mexico
Fruit
This plant has cones that are burgundy, brown, or even black. The cones hang upwards instead of downwards.
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Black
> 3 inches
Flowers
2 to 4 in. oblong dark purple cones
Purple/Lavender
3-6 inches
Leaves
1 to 1.5 in. needles; crowded; pale bluish green
Green
White
Blue
Needles
1-3 inches
Bark
Grayish to chalk white bark
Light Gray
Smooth
Fissured
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage

Abies lasiocarpa Attributes

Abies lasiocarpa: Uses (Ethnobotany)

The wood of this plant is used for construction of boxes, doors, poles, frames, and fuel. Small trees are commonly used as Christmas trees.

Abies lasiocarpa: Country Or Region Of Origin

Alaska to Southern New Mexico

Abies lasiocarpa: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Abies lasiocarpa Fruit

Abies lasiocarpa: Fruit Description

This plant has cones that are burgundy, brown, or even black. The cones hang upwards instead of downwards.

Abies lasiocarpa: Fruit Color

grass
Black
grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
Purple/Lavender
grass
Red/Burgundy

Abies lasiocarpa: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Abies lasiocarpa Flowers

Abies lasiocarpa: Flower Description

2 to 4 in. oblong dark purple cones

Abies lasiocarpa: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Abies lasiocarpa: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Abies lasiocarpa Leaves

Abies lasiocarpa: Leaf Description

1 to 1.5 in. needles; crowded; pale bluish green

Abies lasiocarpa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Abies lasiocarpa: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green
spa
White

Abies lasiocarpa: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Abies lasiocarpa: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Abies lasiocarpa: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Abies lasiocarpa: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Abies lasiocarpa Bark

Abies lasiocarpa: Bark Description

Grayish to chalk white bark

Abies lasiocarpa: Bark Color

grass
Light Gray

Abies lasiocarpa: Surface/Attachment

Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy

Abies lasiocarpa Whole Plant Traits

Abies lasiocarpa: 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 lasiocarpa: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Abies lasiocarpa: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Abies lasiocarpa: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Abies lasiocarpa: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Abies lasiocarpa Cultural Conditions

Abies lasiocarpa: 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 lasiocarpa: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Abies lasiocarpa: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a

Abies lasiocarpa Stem

Abies lasiocarpa: Stem Color

grass
Gray/Silver

Abies lasiocarpa: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Abies lasiocarpa: Stem Form

Straight
Zig Zags