Plant Data Sheet

Abies procera noble fir

Range

Mountains of Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington between latitude 44N and 48N.

Climate, elevation

Moist maritime climate. Cool temperatures, high precipitation. Annual precipitation 1960-2410 mm. Three quarters of precipitation falls between October and March as snow. Mid to upper elevations.

Local occurrence (where, how common)

West slopes of the Cascade Mountains.

Habitat preferences

Prefers moist deep cool well-drained soil. However, can grow on a wide variety of soils including rocky if there is enough moisture. Takes sun to part shade. Does not tolerate high wind or soil with high pH.

Plant strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional)

Associated species

Associates with most Northwest confers throughout the range, Alaska huckleberry, red huckleberry, Cascades azalea, Pacific rhododendron, bear grass, fawn lily, inside-out-flower.

May be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)

Seed

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Seeds are dispersed in September - October. Noble fir starts to produce seed around 50 years of age. Time between good cone crops could be up to 6 years. Seed quality is poor. Good seed quality usually correlates with good cone crops.

Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?)

Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)

Recommended seed storage conditions

Propagation recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)

Soil or medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)

Installation form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)

Recommended planting density

Care requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.)

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

In landscape settings grows to 50-100 feet tall. In native habitat grows 180-270 feet. A noble fir that is around 100 years old is usually 90-100 feet tall. Very young trees have a slow growth rate, growth rate increases to moderate.

Sources cited

Burns, R. and B. Honkala. 1990. Silvics of North America, Volume 1, Conifers. Agricultural Handbook 654. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, D.C.

Dirr, M. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants.

Oregon State University Extension Service and Oregon Department of Forestry. 1995. Trees to Know in Oregon.

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/abipro/all.html

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr513/gtr513b.pdf

Data compiled by Katie McGowan April 29, 2003