Pacific Silver Fir

Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis, Pinaceae) is a slow-growing native conifer of the coastal ranges and mountain forests from the Alaska panhandle to northwest California, reaching 50 to 80 feet in cultivation (up to 260 feet in the wild). It develops a narrow pyramidal form with a spread of about 16 feet. Needles are densely arranged and brushed forward on the twig, deep shiny green and furrowed above with silvery-white stomatal bands below, emitting an orange fragrance when crushed. Stiffly erect barrel-shaped cones (10 to 14 centimeters) ripen from green to deep purple.

Pacific silver fir grows in part shade on acidic soils (pH 3.3 to 6.0) with moderate water needs and low drought tolerance, hardy in Zones 5a to 8b. It requires cool, moist conditions and performs best in fog belts and deep moist soils. Minimum root depth is 36 inches. Disease pressure is significant, with 17 documented associations including broom rust, needle cast, Heterobasidion root disease, and Phytophthora root rot. Pest associations include balsam woolly adelgid, spruce budworm, and spruce spider mite. The cultivar 'Spreading Star' (3 feet, prostrate form) is in the trade.