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Figure-1: Abies Concolor, a medium to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 25 - 26 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m.
Figure-2: Leaf variably twisted at the base, upswept across the top of the hoot but not below the shoot.
Figure-3: Cone, contains the repruductive structures. Female con produce seed while male cone produce pollen.
Figure-4: Distribution of Abies concolor, from the cascades of central Oregon south through California to northern Baja California, Mexico.
Spread: 15 to 25 feet
Leaf: Blue or blue green leaf color, no fall color change, needle-like shape, a citrus smell is present when the needle is broken. Blunt at the tip spiral leaf arrangement (Figure-2)
Uses: Bonsai, used extensively for solid construction framing and plywood; recommended fore buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip planting in the highway; screen; specimen; Christmas tree, as a Christmas tree, it remains fresh and retains its needles for two weeks or more if provided with water.
Flower: Yellow to red color, inconspicuous and not showy, no ornamental value, Monoecious, catkin-like.
Fruit: Deciduous at maturity with see dispersal in fall. Cone is brown color, usually borne on the upper third of the tree. 3 to 6 inches cylindrical cones, dry and hard (figure-3). Fruit will not attract wildlife.
Range: Native to Rocky Mountains of western United States (figure-4); from Canada to California, occurring at altitudes of 900-3400m. Typically area with long winters; moderate to heavy snow packs; and short growing seasons.
Culture: High drought tolerance, tree prefers a moist, well-drained loam and dislikes heavy clay or high ph soils. Their root system can adapt to wet or rocky soil conditions by growing close to the surface of the soil.