Taxonomy

Division:

Coniferophyta | - Conifers

Family:

Pinaceae

Genus:

Abies

Species:

Abies bracteata

USDA Symbol:

ABBR

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Tree

Height:

4500 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

apr,may

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

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Notes:

Thin bark and low elevation distribution make it fire-sensitive. Post-fire mortality is typically high with limited regeneration from seed.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to steep, rocky slopes in California

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–45 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination. Fresh seed germinates best; viability drops significantly after one year of storage.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI