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Abies amabilis
Abies amabilis (Douglas ex Loudon) Douglas ex Forbes
Pacific Silver Fir, Cascade Fir, Lovely Fir, White Fir, Red fir
Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ABAM
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
Large fir with beautiful, spire-like, 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 lovely an apt name for this beautiful tree.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Monoecious
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 200 feet tall.
Leaf: Gray-Green
Fruit: Brown
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AK , CA , OR , WACanada: 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.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight 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: SeedsFind Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | UPL | FACU | FACU |
Additional resources
USDA: Find Abies amabilis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Abies amabilis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Abies amabilis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2021-11-18Research By: TWC Staff