Abies concolor
Colorado Fir
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Abies genus in the family Pinaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The pitch from the trunk has been used as an antiseptic poultice for cuts, wounds etc[8]. An infusion of the pitch, or the bark, has been used in the treatment of TB[8] An infusion of the foliage has been used in a bath for relieving rheumatism[8]. An infusion of the pitch and leaves has been used in the treatment of pulmonary complaints[8].
- Product or use
- Antirheumatic
- Product or use
- Pectoral
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- TB
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A tan coloured dye can be obtained from the bark[8]. Wood - very light, not strong, coarse grained, soft, not durable. Used mainly for pulp, cases etc[9][10][14]. It is sometimes used in framing small houses but is not strong enough to be used in larger buildings[7]. The wood lacks a distinctive odour and so does not impart a flavour to items stored in it. Thus it can be used for making tubs for storing food items[7].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- South-western N. America - Oregon to California, to Arizona and New Mexico.
- Habitat
- Found on a wide range of soils, but preferring moist soils with a humid climate and a long winter from 700 metres to 3,400 metres[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow early February in a greenhouse or outdoors in March[11]. Germination is often poor, usually taking about 6 - 8 weeks[11]. Stratification is said to produce a more even germination so it is probably best to sow the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[12][3]. The seed remains viable for up to 5 years if it is well stored[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first winter in pots. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Alternatively, if you have sufficient seed, it is possible to sow in an outdoor seedbed. One report says that it is best to grow the seedlings on in the shade at a density of about 550 plants per square metre[11] whilst another report says that they are best grown on in a sunny position[12].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a good moist but not water-logged soil[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are very shade tolerant but growth is slower in dense shade[13]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[1]. Prefers slightly acid conditions down to a pH of about 5[6]. Prefers growing on a north-facing slope[6]. Trees succeed on poor dry sites in the wild[4]. Trees are shallow rooted and therefore liable to be wind-blown in exposed sites[4]. Trees grow almost as well in S. Britain as they do in cooler areas of the country[2]. They are at their best in the Perthshire valleys of Scotland and in N.E. England, trees in the south and east of the country tend to be thin in the crown and soon lose their shape. Trees in the west grow better but also lose their shape after a while[2][5]. New growth is from mid-May to July and trees are virtually never damaged by late frosts or aphis[1][5]. Most trees of this species that are grown in Britain are in fact the sub-species A. concolor lowiana. (Gordon.)Lemmon. This form tends to grow better in Britain than the type. There are 2 basic forms of this sub-species, those from the north of the range are vigorous in height growth whilst the southern form is vigorous in girth growth[5]. They both have a potential for forestry use in Britain[5]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm in height. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[6]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[6]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[6]. A very ornamental tree[1]. The crushed leaves have a strong lemony scent[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00
Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X