White Fir is conifer tree in the pine family (Pinaceae) that is slow-growing and long-lived. The native range is the western United States in the Sierra Nevada and southern Rocky Mountains and south to the mountains of Nevada, New Mexico and Mexico It is found in elevations of 3,000 and 11,200 feet. White fir has a narrow dense pyramidal shape with horizontal branches and drooping lower branches. In the wild, it can grow 130 to 150 feet tall but in cultivation usually reaches 30-70 feet tall and 15- 30 feet wide. It prefers moist fertile soil with good drainage in full sun to partial shade. Avoid heavy clay and wet spots, It withstands heat and drought better than most firs. The white fir has a good Christmas tree shape when young and good needle retention after cutting. It can be used as a specimen, for privacy and screening or for shade. It is not suited to the southeastern United States. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It breaks buds early in the spring that can be susceptible to frost damage. See potential insect problems for conifers fact sheet to the left
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
24-60 feet
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf value
Fragrant; Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Needles are 0.5 to 2 inches long; blue-green when young dull green with age and may have a bloom on the underside; needles pointed or notched at the tip. The needles have a slight citrus fragrance.
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green; Purple/Lavender
Fruit size
> 3 inches long
Fruit detail
Cones are cylindrical, 5 inches long, green or brown with a purple bloom (wax) when young, brown and glossy at maturity. The cones break apart and release winged seeds.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Orange
Bark detail
When the tree is younger, the bark can nearly look smooth (which is quite different to when it is older with many irregular plates). When young, the bark can look light gray to light brown with hints of orange underneath.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Branches are arranged in whorls of 4 or 5 with repeat branching to form flat, horizontal sprays. Buds are blunt and resinous
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Western North America
Wildlife value
Birds find cover and nesting sites in the branches.