James H. Schutte
Family
Pinaceae
Botanical Name
Abies amabilis 'Spreading Star'
Plant Common Name
Pacific Silver Fir
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
A very tall, spire-like evergreen in the wild, the Pacific silver fir remains much shorter and more pyramidal in form when grown in gardens. Native to the panhandle of Alaska southward to Victoria Island and western Oregon's Cascade range, this fir prospers where summers are moist and cool and winters cold and snowy. The bark is light gray and smooth but with age, the trunk displays plates floating on an underbark of reddish brown.
New branch shoots emerge at right angles in opposite pairs, initially covered in beige hairs. The needles occur densely on branch tips, angled slightly forward and the flattened needles curl upward slightly like eyelashes on sun-basked branches. Needle undersides are silvery white. Male cones are reddish to golden red, contrasting the upright female cones that are larger and cylindrical. Mature seed cones are purplish gray then finally brown, often with globs of resin.
Young Pacific silver firs look like upright narrow pyramids and over decades become tall and flat-topped with remaining branches looking like tiers. Grow it in deep, fertile, acidic soils that are evenly moist but well-drained. Organic matter improves growth as well as keeps the soil shaded and cool during summer. Full sun to partial shade locations are fine. This fir is a coastal forest tree and may be used as a specimen in a park or garden or as a windbreak. Interestingly, Pacific silver fir trees readily retain needles for 20 years, and up to 50 years before shedding some foliage isn't uncommon.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
6 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
6 - 8
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Sunset Zone
A3, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
20'-100' / 6.1m - 30.5m (50)
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Width
12'-20' / 3.7m - 6.1m (15)
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Native To
North America, Europe, Asia
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
None
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Fruit Color
Purple, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Bark Color
Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
