Abies concolor 'Gable's Weeping' / Gable's Weeping white fir

Abies concolor 'Gable's Weeping' is a strongly weeping selection of white fir that grows somewhat wider than tall with a naturally windswept look. Young plants require staking to achieve desired height. From that point, all growth will proceed downward. Foliage is gray-green in color, with very attractive new growth and mustard-colored stems. If staked, it will reach 50 inches (1.5 m) and 24 inches (60 cm) wide in ten years, an annual growth rate of 3 to 5 inches (7.5 - 10 cm) per year.

This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in 1951 by the John B. Gable Nursery, Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, and introduced to the nursery trade in 1970 by Watnong Nursery, Morris Plains, New Jersey. When the 18-year-old original plant was measured at that time, it was 16 inches (40 cm) tall and 20 inches (50 cm) wide.

Abies concolor 'Gable's Weeping' in the Harper Collection of Dwarf and Rare Conifers, Hidden Lake Gardens, Tipton, Michigan. photo from August 2005.
Photo by Dax Herbst
Abies concolor 'Gable's Weeping' at Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, Iowa in the Heartland Collection of Garden Conifers; photo from May 2004.
Photo by Dax Herbst
Abies concolor 'Gable's Weeping' — a young plant.
Photo by Bill Barger
Abies concolor 'Gable's Weeping' — a closeup of foliage detail.
Photo by Bil Barger

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