Practical
Plants

Abies procera

Noble Fir

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Abies genus in the family Pinaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Pinaceae
Genus
Abies
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
60 m
Spread
5 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the leaves has been used as a cough medicine[7].

Product or use
Pectoral

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - light, hard, strong, close grained, works easily. Used for lumber, interior work, pulp etc[8][11][15][6].

Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Washington to N. California. Self-sows in Britain - in Scotland[2].
Habitat
Deep forests at elevations between 600 - 1500 metres[10]. The best specimens are found in deep rich soils with a short cool growing season and abundant annual precipitation, mainly as snow[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
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[12]. Germination is often poor, usually taking about 6 - 8 weeks[12]. 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[13][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[12] whilst another report says that they are best grown on in a sunny position[13].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good moist but not water-logged soil[1]. Succeeds in cold exposed positions and in poor mountain peats[2]. Succeeds in poor thin soils so long as sufficient moisture is present[6]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are very shade tolerant, especially when young, but they grow more slowly in dense shade[14]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[1]. Prefers slightly acid conditions with a pH down to about 5[5]. Grows well on a north-facing slope[5]. A long-lived tree in the wild, with specimens more than 600 years old recorded[6]. It is a very ornamental tree[1], but is very susceptible to damage by aphis in some areas of the country[1][2]. Planted for timber in W. and N. Europe[9], in Britain it grows best in wetter parts of the country such as the Perthshire valleys of Scotland[2]. Trees do not grow well in the drier areas of Britain[14]. In a suitable site it can make new growth of 1 metre a year until it is 25 metres tall when growth slows[4]. Exposure seems to severely limit growth in height in southern and eastern regions but less so in areas of high rainfall such as N. Wales and Argyll[4]. New growth takes place from early June to August[4]. 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[5]. Trees are sometimes used as 'Christmas trees'[5]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[5]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  4. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  6. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  9. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  10. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  12. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2

  14. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2

  15. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

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