Identify Types of Fir Trees in America

Balsam Fir

The balsam fir, also called the Canadian balsam, bracted balsam fir, or balm of Gilead fir, grows in mature form to a height of 50 to 70 feet and a width of 15 to 20 feet.

Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is the most widely used Christmas tree in the United States. It has a pleasant smell and strong branches that can support many ornaments. The Douglas Fir is also an important lumber tree, and produces paper pulp with a high amount of lignin. The state of Oregon recognizes the Douglas Fir as its state tree.

Frasier Fir

The Frasier Fir is native to the Appalachian Mountains and most often used as a Christmas tree. It has a silvery underside to its needles and short, flat needles that radiate out from the branch in all directions. You can identify it by its strong fragrance. The Frasier Fir is known as having the highest quality of any Christmas tree, which is why we chose it for our lot this year. It’s also used as a cut tree for decorating homes throughout the holiday season.

Grand Fir

The Grand Fir is a large tree, second in size only to the Coast Douglas-fir. It is hardy to about -30F. The bark is thin, smooth, and gray with resin blisters. The needles are soft, flat, and dark green on the upper side and white beneath. Cones are 1 1/2 – 3″ long and hang downward from branches.

Noble Fir

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Concolor Fir

Often confused with white spruce, the concolor fir is a unique conifer tree with soft needles. The needles are flat and grow in all directions on its branches. The concolor fir has two-toned needles. It has light green on top and silvery blue underneath, which gives it a beautiful appearance of being frosted. The western concolor fir is the largest of all firs growing to heights of 100 feet or more.

You can easily tell the difference between this tree and other evergreen species by feeling their needles for yourself. You will find that the fir’s are soft, unlike the hard spruce trees’ needles

These are the 6 types of fir trees in North America.

You’re out for a walk in the woods and come upon a towering fir tree. Or you’re shopping for a Christmas tree, and want to make sure you’re getting one of the best varieties available. It’s hard to tell fir trees apart—they all have soft, flat needles that grow in dense clusters along their branches. But there are several species of fir trees native to the United States alone, so it pays to know what you’re looking at. Here are six popular types of firs:

• Balsam Fir
• Douglas Fir
• Frasier Fir
• Grand Fir
• Noble Fir
• Concolor Fir