Conifers
Noble Fir
Abies procera
Noble fir is a tall evergreen conifer with blue-green needles and a narrow, conical outline when young. Mature trees can develop a longer trunk and rounder crown, with large upright cones that turn purple-brown as they ripen. In cultivation, allow for about 50–100 feet of height and 13–26 feet of spread; this is a tree for a large landscape, screen, or windbreak. It grows slowly to moderately and needs full sun to part shade, cool soil, steady moisture, and good drainage. In Southwest Washington lowlands, choose the site carefully: warm, dry, or poorly drained conditions can make growing difficult.
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At a glance
- Mature height
- About 50–100 ft
- Mature spread
- About 13–26 ft
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Hardiness
- Generally hardy to USDA Zone 5
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
A large landscape can accommodate noble fir as a specimen, screen, or windbreak. Its evergreen foliage provides year-round cover.
Where to plant
Give the tree room for a spread of about 13–26 feet. Choose a site with full sun to part shade and cool, well-drained soil.
Through the seasons
Blue-green needles remain through the year. Mature trees can produce large upright cones that turn purple-brown as they ripen.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
Noble fir is native to Pacific Northwest mountain and coastal ranges. Southwest Washington lowland sites can be difficult unless the soil stays cool, moist, and well drained.
Soil, drainage & water
Plant in moist, well-drained soil, preferably acidic to neutral. Avoid persistently wet ground and sites that become hot and dry.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Little routine pruning is needed. Maintain suitable moisture and watch current-season needles for brown bands or early drop.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Current-season needle necrosis
Brown bands appear on current-season needles, which may darken or redden before dropping.
Help your plant thrive
Maintain suitable soil moisture and nutrition, and reduce stress from poor growing conditions.
A little more inspiration
Keep exploring.
Weeping Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Pendula'
A sculptural evergreen with hanging branches that can become an upright specimen or a low spreading feature, depending on its form and early training.
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Cupressina Norway Spruce
Picea abies 'Cupressina'
Dense, ascending branches create a slender evergreen column, offering substantial height and winter structure where a full-width spruce would demand too much horizontal space.
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2016.04.12 18.49.07 DSC03409 - Flickr - andrey zharkikh.jpg
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA
CC BY 2.0 · Web-optimized
Weeping White Spruce
Picea glauca 'Pendula'
A narrow evergreen with an upright leader and dramatically hanging blue-green branches, suited to a cool, open planting space where its tall silhouette can develop.
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