Pacific Silver Fir
Abies amabilis
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Walter Siegmund (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- Abies amabilis
- USDA Symbol:
- ABAM
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 4500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, cover for wildlife
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Notes:
- Thin bark makes mature trees vulnerable to fire damage. Seedlings and saplings can establish after fire but species generally fire-sensitive compared to associated conifers.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, rich loamy soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.0 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers cool, humid environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 21–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Germination improved with cold-moist stratification and temperatures around 15-20°C.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags into a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) soak for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 24 hours. The bags are then placed in sealed containers in refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 90 days. Alternatively, seeds can be placed in cold moist stratification for 28 days.
Establishment: Abies amabilis is native to the Pacific Northwest, ranging from northern California to Alaska and Idaho. It grows at elevations of 300 to 2,100 m on coastal slopes of the Cascades. Germination is somewhat slow and uneven, and may take up to 3 to 4 weeks to be complete. Germination was found to be greater in dark than light.
Source: npn.rngr.net