European Silver Fir

Abies alba

Pinaceae · coniferous tree · introduced

Last updated May 11, 2026

Quick Facts

Height

100-160 ft

Spread

49 ft

Growth Rate

Fast

Light

Full Sun to Part Shade

Soil

Moist

Water

Moderate

Hardiness

Zone Zones 4a–8b

Origin

the mountains of southern and central Europe east to

RustHigh

Aecial Stage (Alternate Host)

Armillaria Root RotModerate

Active Below-ground Growth

Balsam woolly adelgidModerate

Spring Activation

Diseases: Regionally Documented (15)

Melampsorella caryophyllacearum [VERIFY] Broom Rust Current-season Needle Necrosis Drought Injury Grovesiella punctata Grovesiella Canker Heterobasidion occidentale Otrosina & Garbel Heterobasidion Root Disease Multiple fungi (Rhizosphaera spp., Stigmina spp., Lirula ... Interior Needle Blight Rhabdocline spp. including R Needle Cast Neonectia Canker Delphinella balsameae Purple Needle Eater (Delphinella Shoot Blight) Root Rot, Phytophthora Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Multiple pathogens cause shoot blight on different hosts:... Shoot Blight Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Pucciniastrum spp. Rust (Pucciniastrum) Uredinopsis spp. Rust (Uredinopsis)

Pests: Regionally Documented (8)

Mindarus abietinus Balsam twig aphid Adelges piceae Balsam woolly adelgid Dioryctria spp. Coneworm Cinara spp. Giant conifer aphid Choristoneura freemani Spruce budworm (Western) Oligonychus ununguis Spruce spider mite Cinara curvipes Bow-legged fir aphid Choristoneura fumiferana Spruce budworm

Cultivars (2)

'Barabits Star'

Common name: Barabit's Star European Silver Fir; Mature height: 6–12 ft

Hardy to USDA Zone 4

'Pendula'

Common name: Weeping European Silver Fir; Mature height: 8 ft

Hardy to USDA Zone 4

Data Maturity

Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.