Noble Fir
Noble fir, known for its beautiful symmetrical appearance, is a tall conifer species found in the Pacific coastal ranges of North America at an altitude of 910-1,680 m (3,000-5,500 ft). It has long and pointy leaves that turn upward, revealing the branches below. When young, the tree has smooth, gray bark with resin blisters; but at maturity, it becomes reddish-brown, with a rough, fissured texture.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom | Plantae |
Division | Pinophyta |
Class | Pinopsida |
Order | Pinales |
Family | Pinaceae |
Genus | Abies |
Scientific Name | Abies procera |
Quick Information
Other Names | Red Fir, Christmas tree |
Closely related to | Abies magnifica (California red fir), Abies magnifica var. shastensis (Shasta fir) |
Size | Large trees that stand at a height of 40-70 meters (130-230 feet), occasionally reaching up to 90 meters (295 feet); straight trunk with an average diameter of 2 meters (6.5 feet) |
Leaves (Needles) | Flattened, linear, 1-3.5 cm long, blue-green color on all surfaces, strong stomatal bands, curved base; tips are rounded but pointy on the branches bearing cone; spiral arrangement but upswept above the shoot |
Cones (Strobili) | Erect, 4.3-8.7 inches long; the male cones are purple or reddish, borne below the leaves; the female cones are borne at the top of the crown and have purple scales hidden by the yellowish-green bract scales |
Tree Type | Evergreen |
Branches | Diverge from the bark at right angles, stiff and reddish brown boughs; there is some spacing between the branches of a noble fir, giving the tree a less dense appearance than Douglas fir (another popular species of Christmas tree) |
Shape | Young trees have a conical crown while matured noble firs have a short, rounded apex |
Distribution/Range | Foothills of mountains as well as high mountain sides of Cascade and Coast Range of northwest California, western Washington, and Oregon in the US; Canadian Life Zone and lower Transition Zone of Canada |
Hardiness Zones | 5-6 |
Lifespan | 250-300 years in average, while few may survive for more than 400 years |
Growth Rate | Slow to medium; average annual increase in height is 12-24 inches |
Growing Conditions | Humidity: Low; development of cones as well as shedding of pollen is sensitive to changes in humidity
Temperature: Grows well in cold climates with snowy winters. Can grow in regions with short summers. Rain: Annual precipitation between 1,750mm and 2,600mm Sunlight: Partial shade and exposure to direct sunlight Soil Requirements: Cool, moist, deep, well-drained, and acidic soil; also found on thin and rocky soils with sufficient moisture |
Diseases and Pests | Phytophthora root rot, stem canker, interior needle blight, CSNN (current season needle necrosis) are the common diseases affecting noble fir; branch distortion and needle discoloration are caused by spruce spider mite, balsam wooly adelgid, and balsam twig aphid |
Flowering/Fruiting | Buds burst during early May to early June; pollen cone shedding occurs in June-July; seed dispersal starts during late September-early October |
Seed production | Cones are borne at twenty years of age, but commercial seed bearing starts at 50 years |
Seedling development | Germination takes place in the growing season following seed dispersal; initial development is slow, and it takes 3-5 years to attain a height of 1 ft |
Wildlife Value | Birds such as jays, nuthatches, and chickadees, as well as rodents including mice and Douglas squirrels, feed on the noble fir seeds; black bears eat the sapwood by stripping the bark; it provides forest cover and protects the wildlife from cold |
Cultivars | A. procera cv. ‘Glauca,’ A. procera cv. ‘Prostrata,’ and A. procera cv. ‘Robustifolia’ |
Uses | Makes a great Christmas tree since it is attractive and highly keepable; used for making garland, wreaths, and door swags; being lightweight and moderately strong, it is used as plywood, pulpwood, and construction lumber |
Identification of wood | The noble fir wood has uniform straight grain with the springwood or earlywood being creamy white or lightbrown and the summerwood or latewood being slightly lavender or reddish brown |
IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Interesting Facts
- The artificial crossing of noble fir with several other fir species, including California red fir, has yielded viable seeds.
- It is believed that the de Havilland Mosquito bombers, which served during Second World War, were constructed with noble fir wood.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abies_procera
- https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/tree-species-database/noble-fir-nf/
- https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42296/2970458
- https://extension.oregonstate.edu/forests/christmas-trees/noble-fir-seedling-survival-strategies