We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Abies procera - Rehder.

Common Name Noble Fir
Family Pinaceae
USDA hardiness 5-6
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Deep forests at elevations between 600 - 1500 metres[60]. The best specimens are found in deep rich soils with a short cool growing season and abundant annual precipitation, mainly as snow[229].
Range Western N. America - Washington to N. California. Self-sows in Britain - in Scotland[11].
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Abies procera Noble Fir


http://www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/
Abies procera Noble Fir
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Crusier

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Form: Columnar, Pyramidal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Abies procera is an evergreen Tree growing to 60 m (196ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen in September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. nobilis. Pinus nobilis.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Pectoral

A decoction of the leaves has been used as a cough medicine[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Wood

Wood - light, hard, strong, close grained, works easily. Used for lumber, interior work, pulp etc[46, 61, 82, 229].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Screen. Prefers a good moist but not water-logged soil[1]. Succeeds in cold exposed positions and in poor mountain peats[11]. Succeeds in poor thin soils so long as sufficient moisture is present[229]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Plants are very shade tolerant, especially when young, but they grow more slowly in dense shade[81]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[1]. Prefers slightly acid conditions with a pH down to about 5[200]. Grows well on a north-facing slope[200]. A long-lived tree in the wild, with specimens more than 600 years old recorded[229]. It is a very ornamental tree[1], but is very susceptible to damage by aphis in some areas of the country[1, 11]. Planted for timber in W. and N. Europe[50], in Britain it grows best in wetter parts of the country such as the Perthshire valleys of Scotland[11]. Trees do not grow well in the drier areas of Britain[81]. In a suitable site it can make new growth of 1 metre a year until it is 25 metres tall when growth slows[185]. 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[185]. New growth takes place from early June to August[185]. 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[200]. Trees are sometimes used as 'Christmas trees'[200]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[200]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[200]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, North American native, There are no flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sow early February in a greenhouse or outdoors in March[78]. Germination is often poor, usually taking about 6 - 8 weeks[78]. 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[80, 113]. The seed remains viable for up to 5 years if it is well stored[113]. 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[78] whilst another report says that they are best grown on in a sunny position[80].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Abies albaSilver Fir, Christmas Tree Fir, European Silver Fir, SilverTree45.0 5-8 FLMHFSNM234
Abies amabilisRed Fir,Pacific silver firTree30.0 4-8 SLMHFSNM123
Abies balsameaBalsam FirTree15.0 3-6 SLMHFSNM353
Abies cephalonicaGrecian FirTree36.0 4-8 MLMHFSNM002
Abies concolorColorado Fir, White firTree45.0 3-7 FLMHFSNDM022
Abies delavayi Tree25.0 6-9 SLMHFSNM003
Abies firmaMomi Fir, Japanese FirTree30.0 6-9 MLMHFSNM102
Abies fraseriShe Balsam, Fraser fir, Southern Balsam FirTree15.0 4-7 FLMHFSNM133
Abies grandisGrand Fir, Giant Fir, Lowland White FirTree75.0 5-6 FLMHFSNM223
Abies homolepisNikko FirTree36.0 4-7 MLMHFSNM002
Abies lasiocarpaSubalpine Fir, Alpine FirTree25.0 5-6 SLMHFSNM222
Abies magnificaCalifornian Red Fir, Shasta red firTree60.0 4-8 MLMHFSNM002
Abies mariesii Tree20.0 5-9 SLMHFSNM002
Abies nordmannianaCaucasian Fir, Christmas Tree Fir, NordmannTree50.0 4-6 MLMHFSNM002
Abies pindrowWest Himalayan FirTree30.0 5-7 SLMHFSNM002
Abies recurvata Tree35.0 5-9 MLMHFSNM002
Abies religiosaSacred FirTree40.0 7-10 FLMHFSNM013
Abies sachalinensisSakhalin FirTree30.0 3-6 SLMHFSNM002
Abies sibiricaSiberian FirTree30.0 -  LMHFSNM013
Abies spectabilisHimalayan FirTree30.0 6-9 SLMHFSNM023
Abies squamataFlaky FirTree30.0 5-9 SLMHFSNDM002
Abies veitchiiVeitch Fir, ChristmastreeTree25.0 3-7 FLMHFSNM002
Abies veitchii sikokiana Tree30.0 3-7  LMHFSNM002
Picea abiesNorway SpruceTree30.0 2-7 FLMHNMWe214

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Rehder.

Botanical References

1160200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Abies procera  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.