Subalpine Fir
Abies lasiocarpa
Also known as: subalpine fir
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Walter Siegmund (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- Abies lasiocarpa
- USDA Symbol:
- ABLA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,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
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, seed source for crossbills and nutcrackers
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Notes:
- Thin bark makes it very susceptible to fire damage. Typically killed by fire and regenerates from seed. Does not resprout from roots or crown.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, acidic loam
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers cool, mountainous regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 21–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–45 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Fresh seed germinates best; viability declines rapidly in storage without proper cold treatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in a 1% hydrogen peroxide soak for 24 hours, rinsed, and placed in water for an additional 24 hours. The seeds are then placed in sealed containers in refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 90 days. Alternatively, seeds can undergo cold moist stratification for 28 days.
Establishment: Seeds should be checked weekly during pre-treatment. If mold is evident, they should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide. Germination is greater in the dark than in light. The protocols differ in the pre-treatment methods, with one suggesting a hydrogen peroxide soak and cold stratification, and the other suggesting only cold stratification.
Source: npn.rngr.net