Abies grandis / grand fir

Abies grandis, as described in 1833 by (Douglas ex D. Don) John Lindley (1799–1865), in The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, is commonly known as grand or silver fir; as well as sapin grandissime in the French language. The species name reflects this conifer's status as the tallest-known fir species.

Ethnobotany. The inner bark of the grand fir was used by some Plateau Indian tribes for treating colds and fever. The foliage has an attractive citrus-like scent, and is sometimes used for Christmas decorations in the United States, including Christmas trees. It is also planted as an ornamental tree in large parks.

Robert Van Pelt's drawing of the largest known grand fir, on the Duckabush River in Olympic N.P., Washington.
Robert Van Pelt's drawing of the largest known grand fir, on the Duckabush River in Olympic N.P., Washington.

Description. Grand fir is a fast-growing, evergreen coniferous species of tree that grows to mature heights of 260 feet (80 m) tall; with a trunk up to 62 inches (155 cm) in diameter, measured at breast height; and a crown conic, becoming round-topped or straggly with age.

  • Bark is gray in color and thin when young; thickening and becoming brown with age, often with a reddish periderm visible in furrows bounded by hard flat ridges.
  • Branches grow spreading, and drooping.
  • Twigs are mostly opposite, light brown in color, with pubescent texture.
  • Foliar buds are exposed; purple, green, or brown in color; with a globose shape, small to moderately large in size; resinous; with a rounded apex. Basal scales are short and broad, with an equilaterally triangular shape; a slightly pubescent or glabrous texture, and resinous. Margins are entire, with pointed or slightly rounded apices.
  • Leaves (needles) are sharp-tipped, and arranged in 2 distinct, flattened rows, colored dark glossy green above and greenish white beneath, with large white bands of stomata on the undersides - giving it a silvery effect when looking up from below, hence common name Silver fir. Individual needles measure 0.8 to 1.4 inches (20 - 35 mm) long by 0.08 inch (2 mm) thick.
  • Seed cones are cylindrically shaped, measuring 2 to 4 inches (5 - 10 cm) long by 1.5 to 1.7 inches (3 - 4 cm) broad, colored light-green or purple-tinged when young, maturing to a dull grey-brown, and are usually very resinous.
natural range of <em>Abies grandis </em>subsp. <em>grandis </em>in green and subsp. <em>idahoensis </em>in Blue
natural range of Abies grandis subsp. grandis in green and subsp. idahoensis in Blue

Distribution. This species is native to southwestern Canada and northwestern USA south to northern California, found at elevations from sea level to 5,900 feet (1,800 m). The plant is tolerant of most soils that are deep and moist.

Hardy to USDA Zone 6 — cold hardiness limit between -10° and 0°F (-23.2° and -17.8°C).

Attribution from: Richard S. Hunt, Abies. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (editors); Flora of North America North of Mexico, Vol. 2; ©1993, Oxford University Press.

Abies grandis — veteran grand fir trees in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park near Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — yard trees
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — an immature grand fir tree planted at a cemetery in Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — bark detail of trees living in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park near Whistler, B.C.
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — ridges developing in older bark of grand fir, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park near Whistler, B.C., Canada
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — fragmenting cones are generally pendant, unlike most Abies species.
Photo by Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service, United States
Abies grandis — needles are held in a flat plane
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — profile of needles
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — foliage detail (adaxial aspect).
Photo by Bill Barger
Abies grandis — foliage detail (abaxial aspect).
Photo by Bill Barger
Abies grandis — young grand fir needles in the spring
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca
Abies grandis — flat, blunt needles, somewhat aligned in one plane; blunt, pitchy buds
Photo by Blake Willson, courtesy of TreeLib.ca

Comments

Travis

I have a Norway, Colorado spruce trees doing very well. Can I plant a Grand Fir, and it live in Tennessee?

Fred Cain

Travis,

I live in northeastern Indiana (zone 5b - supposedly) and have three small grand firs started. Two are on their third season and one is on their fourth season. I have found them to be quite cold tolerant so far (The University of Idaho claims zone 4).

However, so far I've seen that they're not especially heat tolerant. They tend to suffer in hot weather. One tree I had was really vigorous this spring and looked great following several weeks of cool weather. Then we had a couple of days in the 90's with a hot wind blowing and it really suffered. It now has a lot of brown needles especially where it was exposed to the hot wind. I don't think it will die but weather did set it back some.

Regards,
Fred M. Cain,
Topeka, IN

Zeke Yewdall

Yes, we are noticing they are not very heat or drought tolerant -- I think more drought than heat, but not sure. They are native in Eastern WA where I live, and we've been noticing a higher mortality of mature (16" to 30" diameter) trees the last 10 years with the ongoing drought and higher temps now. The younger ones still seem to be doing just fine -- hundreds of thousands of 3 to 10 foot tall ones reseeding some areas. We are getting 90's and even 100's in the summer now, and temps around 0 to -10F in the winter is usual. We're around 3400 feet elevation near the Idaho border of northeast WA.

Dan Sealy

Travis,
You might try Fraser fir instead. It grows in the Smoky Mountains and is the state tree of North Carolina - itg is the closest relative to Grand fir for your region. It is usually happier at elevations over about 3,000 ft and at lower elevations can suffer from the balsam woolly adelgid, a non native , wingless insect and Phytophthora root disease attacks Fraser fir. It is moderately shade tolerant.