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Abies amabilis (Dougl. ex Loud.) Dougl. ex Forbes

Cascade fir, Lovely fir, Pacific silver fir, White fir

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Synonyms: Picea amabilis, Pinus amabilis

USDA Symbol: ABAM

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Large fir with beautiful, spirelike, conical crown of short, down-curving branches and flat, fernlike foliage.

Called the silver fir because of the shining silvery undersides of the needles. Amabilis means ëlovelyí an apt name for this beautiful tree.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: More than 100 ft.
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Color: Gray-Green
Fruit Color: Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: Pacific Coast from extreme SE. Alaska south to W. Oregon; local in NW. California; to 1000 (305 m) in north; to 6000 (1829 m) in south.
Native Habitat: Cool, wet regions, including coastal fog belt and interior mountain valleys; in coniferous forests.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Loam

Benefit

Use Food: The pitch of balsam firs (Abies spp.) was chewed for enjoyment, and the Ditidaht name for both A. amabilis and A. grandis literally means sweet plant.
Use Other: The boughs of the amabilis fir have a pleasant, spicy fragrance and, along with boughs of grand fir, were used in the household as floor coverings and bedding. The Nisgaía occasionally used amabilis fir wood for house planks, but it is soft and brittle, and therefore it was used mostly for fuel.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
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View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Recommended Species Lists

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Abies amabilis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Abies amabilis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Abies amabilis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-04-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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