Noble fir is an evergreen conifer in the Pinaceae (pine) family. It is native to the Cascade Range and Coastal Range mountains of extreme northwest California, western Oregon and Washington state from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. The genus name is old Latin for tree. The specific epithet means “tall.” The tree will grow 50 to 100 feet tall or taller with a pyramidal to narrow form. In the wild it can reach 230 feet tall. This tree does well in windy and sunny conditions in well-drained moist loamy soils. It is best grown within its native range of the Pacific Northwest. It has upswept branches with blue-green needles having pale longitudinal stripes on both surfaces. The large cones have purple scales and are held upright. Noble fir is used as a Christmas tree and its root system makes it wind-tolerant. In its native range, it can be used as a specimen, for privacy and as a windbreak. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No major losses from pests. Noble fir bark beetle ( Pseudohylesinus nobilis ) is often associated with root-diseased trees and can kill the tree. Dwarf mistletoe may be a problem requiring management action in some areas VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Needles; Simple
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Crenate; Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The needles are up to 1 inch long, glaucous blue-green above and below with longitudinal stripes, and a blunt to notched tip. They are arranged spirally on the shoot and slightly twisted to be curved above the shoot. The attachment is J-shaped.
Flower detail
No flowers
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green; Purple/Lavender
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The cones are 4-8 inches, erect on the stem with purple scales that are nearly hidden by the green bract scales. Ripens to brown and disintegrates to release winged seeds in the fall.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Young trees have smooth gray bark with resin blisters that becomes red-brown, rough and fissured as the tree ages,
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The twigs are reddish-brown with fine pubescent for several years. Covered with round, flat leaf scars when needles fall; buds small, rounded, brown and mostly non-resinous. End buds in clusters of three or more.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Western U.S.A.
Distribution
CA, OR, WA
Wildlife value
Provides cover and thermal protection for wildlife. Mammals eat the twigs and cones.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Cover/Habitat; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Uses (ethnobotany)
The wood has been used to build airplanes. It is used in papermaking and construction
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank
Design feature
Accent
Garden tags
#conifer #wind tolerant #evergreen tree #full sun tolerant #Christmas trees #landscape plant sleuths course #showy cones #blue leaves