Kindly sponsored by
a member of the International Dendrology Society
Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles
Synonyms: Pinus lasiocarpa Hook.; A. subalpina Engelm.
In nature a tree to 100 ft, occasionally to 160 ft, with a greyish or chalky-white bark; young shoots finely downy; buds ovoid, resinous. Leaves arranged like those of A. procera, to 11⁄2 in. long on lower branches, shorter and more inclined to be bunched and forward-pointing on upper branches; stomata on both surfaces. Cones dark purple, 21⁄4 to 4 in. long. Bot. Mag., t. 9600.
A native of western N. America at high altitudes, where it often forms beautiful park-like stands in sub-alpine meadows. It is an elegant, slender tree but finds our climate too soft and does not thrive.
var. arizonica (Merriam) Lemm. A. arizonica Merriam – Introduced in 1903. It has more glaucous leaves and owes its name, the corkbark fir, to its thick, corky, yellowish-white bark, and is found at high altitudes in the southern Rocky Mountains.
The name A. lasiocarpa is sometimes used erroneously for A. concolor var. lowiana.
specimens: Crarae, Argyll, pl. 1943, 52 × 23⁄4 ft (1976); Kilmun, Argyll, pl. 1937, 46 × 33⁄4 ft (1978); Altyre, Moray, 70 × 31⁄2 ft (1978); Coull House, Aberd., 62 × 53⁄4 ft and 66 × 43⁄4 ft (1983).
var. arizonica - specimens: Highclere, Hants, 75 × 5 ft (1978); Bayford-bury, Herts., 46 × 31⁄2 ft (1975); Speech House, Glos., pl. 1921, 51 × 3 ft (1975); Cortachy Castle, Angus, 66 × 5 ft (1980); Altyre, Moray, 36 × 31⁄4 ft (1980); Ardross Castle, Ross, 49 × 5 ft (1980).
† cv. ‘Compacta’. – Of slow growth, making a rugged specimen eventually 6 to 10 ft high, with grey-green young foliage. It was originally placed by Hornibrook under A. arizonica.
Recommended citation
'Abies lasiocarpa' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
In nature a tree to 100 ft, occasionally to 160 ft, with a greyish or chalky-white bark; young shoots finely downy; buds ovoid, resinous. Leaves arranged like those of A. procera, to 11⁄2 in. long on lower branches, shorter and more inclined to be bunched and forward-pointing on upper branches; stomata on both surfaces. Cones dark purple, 21⁄4 to 4 in. long. Bot. Mag., t. 9600.
A native of western N. America at high altitudes, where it often forms beautiful park-like stands in sub-alpine meadows. It is an elegant, slender tree but finds our climate too soft and does not thrive.
specimens: Crarae, Argyll, pl. 1943, 52 × 23⁄4 ft (1976); Kilmun, Argyll, pl. 1937, 46 × 33⁄4 ft (1978); Altyre, Moray, 70 × 31⁄2 ft (1978); Coull House, Aberd., 62 × 53⁄4 ft and 66 × 43⁄4 ft (1983).
var. arizonica - specimens: Highclere, Hants, 75 × 5 ft (1978); Bayford-bury, Herts., 46 × 31⁄2 ft (1975); Speech House, Glos., pl. 1921, 51 × 3 ft (1975); Cortachy Castle, Angus, 66 × 5 ft (1980); Altyre, Moray, 36 × 31⁄4 ft (1980); Ardross Castle, Ross, 49 × 5 ft (1980).
† cv. ‘Compacta’. – Of slow growth, making a rugged specimen eventually 6 to 10 ft high, with grey-green young foliage. It was originally placed by Hornibrook under A. arizonica.
Synonyms
A. arizonica Merriam