White Fir vs. Red Fir
by Bruce Homer-Smith

 

White Fir (Abies concolor) and Red Fir (Abies magnifica) are tall conifers, both growing over 150 feet tall.  As firs, they have single needles rather than bunches of needles as pines do.  Their pine cones stick up from branches at the top of the tree.

 

Where found

White Fir

Red Fir

Found in middle elevations of tall mountain ranges (3,000 – 8,000 ft.

Found in similar high mountain ranges, overlapping but generally higher than White Fir (5,000 – 9,000).

 

Both species mix with other conifers.  These firs grow well in shady places, so in a mature forest they slowly replace pines that need sunlight to grow from seedlings.  However, when fire comes through, pines will prosper again.

 

Needles

White Fir

Red Fir


Drawing © John Muir Laws

Needles are flat, from 1 – 3” long.  On lower branches they open up to make a smooth surface, as shown here.  Higher up, needles point up as with red fir, but are still flat and generally longer.


Drawing © John Muir Laws

Needles are triangular or square in cross section, are less than 1.5” long, and stiffer than White Fir.  Needles always point up, and are more densely packed than White Fir.

White Fir has silver-green needles.

Red Fir has blue-green needles.

 

Pine Cones

White Fir

Red Fir


Photo by Frank Rose

Pine cones are tightly packed cylinders, up to 4 inches tall.  They point up from upper branches.


Photo by Dean Wm. Taylor

Red Fir pine cones are bigger (4 to 8 inches tall).  They also cluster near the top of the tree and point up.

 

Bark

White Fir

Red Fir


Photo by Keir Morse

Bark starts out white and turns grey with age.  Tree top bark is white.  Inner bark in furrows of mature trunks is tan.


Photo by Julie Kierstead Nelson

Outer bark is smooth and pale on young trees, and dark red on mature ones.  Inner bark is purplish-red.

 

Once you’ve figured out the differences between these trees you can judge them from a distance by their needle color and bark color. 

 

These differences are subtle but rewarding to figure out.  Have fun!

 

 

Corrections/Comments: bruce@PlantID.net

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