Concolor Fir

Description

The Concolor Fir is a medium-growing (12 inches per year) compact evergreen. Its needles are 1 1/2 inches long and are positioned on the top side of the stem and point upwards. They are usually a green-blue-silver color and when crushed have a smell of citrus or oranges. It does not shed its needles but holds them for 10 years or longer, and holds its bottom branches to the ground. It is a native of the high plains, low humidity, rocky mountain areas from New Mexico to Wyoming. It commonly grows with the Colorado spruce and Douglas Fir.

The Concolor Fir will grow 30 to 100 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide with a shallow spreading root system. Its branches are not quite as strong as spruces but with its pyramid shape, snow and ice usually cause little damage. This tree can live a long life (100 years+) in its native area, outside of that it varies greatly and many times lives no longer than 40 years. Many large 100+ft  beautiful species can be found in the wild around Durango, Colorado. Deer will not normally eat this species unless nothing else is available.

The Concolor Fir will grow in hardiness zones from 3-6 and does well in poor dry soils. It should not be planted in clay or poorly drained soils. It does well with 15” of rain per year and does well in higher pH soil than any other fir trees.

The Concolor Fir has been planted throughout the US and is used mainly for landscaping. It has been planted in the past in windbreaks because of its nice color and availability. This tree needs well-drained soil to do well, in most places east of Nebraska it has not done well in the long term for windbreaks as there is too much rain and humidity.  When planted on level ground that is not well-drained problems occur in wet years. The roots become too saturated and dieback occurs. Problems with canker and needle cast diseases can also occur when planted too close to windbreaks restricting sun and wind. For best results plant on a well-drained soil and open the spacing up if planting outside its natural range.

We recommend spacing in a single row 14 feet apart, a double row 16 feet between rows and plants, or multiple rows 20 feet or more between rows and plants. A 2-ft tall-potted tree can be 6 ft tall in 5 years provided it is planted in good soil with adequate moisture and weed and grass control around the base.

The White (Concolor) Fir is not a recommended windbreak tree east of Nebraska. In multiple-row windbreaks east of Nebraska life will be short due to spacing, soil, and disease problems. It can be a beautiful tree and if you love this tree plant one in your back yard and one in your front yard but plant other species in your windbreak if east of Nebraska.  We do not consider this to be a long-life windbreak tree east of Nebraska.