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Plant Guide

Status

SUBALPINE FIR

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State

Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s

Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.

current status, such as, state noxious status and

Plant Symbol = ABLA

wetland indicator values.

Description

Contributed By: USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data

General: Pine Family (Pinaceae). Native, evergreen

Center & Biota of North America Program

trees growing to 20 meters tall with a sharp, spire-

like crown, the upper several feet often less than 30

cm in diameter, the plants often reduced to a prostrate

shrub on exposed sites near timberline. Bark is

smooth, grayish-white, with resin blisters, becoming

furrowed only when the tree approaches a foot in

diameter (or var. arizonica, see below, with a softer,

corky trunk); branches with bark splitting to reveal a

reddish-brown layer; leaf scars with periderm red (or

tan in var. arizonica). Needles are 1.8-3 cm long,

flattened, grooved and bluish-green waxy on the

upper surface, 1-ranked and tending to turn upward

so that the foliage of a particular branch appears

flattened and as though no leaves were attached to the

lower sides of the twigs; resin canals median, located

between the upper and lower epidermis. Seed cones

are 6-12 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, dark purple, erect and

only on the uppermost branches. The common name

refers to the distribution of the species in the

From Earle, C.J. 2000

subalpine zone.

@ Gymnosperm Database

Variation within the species: Taxonomy of the

Alternate common names

species is not settled. Abies bifolia A. Murr. may be

Alpine fir, balsam fir, white balsam, white fir,

treated within A. lasiocarpa or as a separate species

western balsam fir, cork bark fir

(evidence summarized by Hunt 1993). A southern

population system (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado)

Uses

is sometimes recognized as A. lasiocarpa var.

The wood is white, soft, brittle, and quick to decay,

arizonica (Merriam) Lemmon (corkbark fir), or it

used for rough construction and boxes, doors, frames,

may be identified as part of A. bifolia.

poles, and fuel. Small trees are extensively used for

Christmas trees. Subalpine fir is a forest pioneer on

Abies lasiocarpa in the broad sense is distinguished

severe and disturbed sites. By providing cover, it

from A. balsamea by 4-5 stomatal rows on the upper

assists in rehabilitating the landscape and protecting

surface at midleaf (vs. mostly 7 rows in A.

watersheds. Subalpine fir grows in forests that

balsamea).

occupy the highest water yield areas in much of the

western United States and are thus highly significant

Distribution

in water management and conservation.

Subalpine fir is widespread in western North

America, from southeastern Alaska, Yukon, and

Native Americans used pitch and bark preparations

Mackenzie south to California, in the Rocky

for wounds and the wood, bark, and boughs for roof

Mountains to northeastern Arizona and New Mexico.

shingles, baskets and bedding. The pitch was also

For current distribution, please consult the Plant

used to coat canoe seams and rubbed on bowstrings

Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web

as a sealant and protectant.

site.

Plant Materials <

Plant Fact Sheet/Guide Coordination Page <

National Plant Data Center <

Plant Guide - Subalpine Fir Abies Lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. - U.s. Department Of Agriculture

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