40 CityTREES
Full sun is best for this tree, meaning it prefers
a minimum of four hours of direct, unfil-
tered sunlight each day, but it can also do
well in part shade. To thrive, the tree requires
a soil pH in the acidic to neutral range; soil
that is moist, well drained, and reasonably
loamy; and hardiness zones of Zone 3 to 7.
From the branches grow soft, bluish silver
needles with whitish lines of stomata on upper
and lower surfaces, approximately 1.5 to 3
inches (4 to 8 cm) long, extending from all sides
of the twig, and usually blunt-tipped. Cones
of 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) length sit upright
on its branches. They start out olive green,
turning purplish and then brown at maturity,
after which they disintegrate while on the tree.
The bark when concolor is young is a smooth
gray, thickening with age into rough irregular
furrows. Some branches can curve toward the
ground while the top branches reach upward.
Its name is as simple as the tree is beautiful.
Abies is the Latin for fir trees, and concolor
means "together, or of one color." As Dirr
writes in his Encyclopedia of Trees & Shrubs,
concolor fir is "one of the most adaptable
and beautiful firs for landscape work, partic-
ularly in the Northeast and Midwest." The
white fir grows in a spire shape to a height
of 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 m) and a spread
of about 20 feet (6 m) at maturity, though
in the wild it can reach 150 feet (46 m). Its
nicely tiered branches give it a handsome
aspect, and it makes a tolerable windbreak.
As a tree not employed for its lumber, con-
color fir has remained naturally protected
over the years and offers great wildlife value.
Fir trees support grouse, which enjoy the
buds and needles; squirrels, rodents, chick-
adees, crossbills, and Clark's nutcrackers
consume concolor's seeds. Deer browse on
its buds, seedlings, and needles, and porcu-
pines are known to gnaw on its bark.
Maturing Abies concolor. Photo by Andy Hillman
