Blue Cloak White Fir

Abies concolor ‘Blue Cloak’

Other Names: Abeto Del Colorado, Balsam Fir, Colorado Fir, Colorado White Fir, Concolor Fir, Pino Real Blanco, Rocky Mountain White Fir, Western White Fir, White Balsam

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-7b (East); 4a-8b (West) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen

Height at Maturity: 14-16′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Spacing: Best as a specimen, in small groupings spaced 10′ apart, or use 2 to frame an entry

Growth Habit / Form: Upright Narrow Pyramid

Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate; 8-10″ per year

Foliage Color: Two-toned Silver-White to Powder-Blue

Fragrant Foliage: Yes

Sun Needs: Full Sun, Light Shade is tolerated

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Moist But Well Drained – does not tolerate standing water or constantly wet soil

Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold (-35F), Deer, Disease, Drought (when established), Insect

Description

The ‘Blue Cloak’ White Fir is an absolutely beautiful upright native selection with a narrow pyramidal form and elegant semi-pendulous branches cloaked in soft powder-blue needles. With a moderate growth rate for a white fir, you can expect 8 to 10 inches in height added per year and 16 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide when all grown up. If you’re looking to add eye-catching soft texture and soothing color to your landscape year round, it doesn’t get much better than Blue Cloak. Established conifers don’t like being moved, so spend some time deciding just the right spot to plant this beauty!

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing up to 16 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide at maturity, the Blue Cloak White Fir is ideal for use as an eye-catching focal point specimen in the sunny landscape. Use two to frame an entryway or plant a grouping of three spaced 9 to 10 feet apart. Also suitable for container gardens. A fine addition to conifer gardens, blue gardens, Asian gardens, Zen gardens and rock gardens.

Suggested Spacing: Best as a specimen, in small groupings spaced 9′ apart, or use 2 to frame an entry

Growing Preferences

The Blue Cloak White Fir is easy to grow in a damp to moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and at least 6 hours or more of direct sunlight per day. As with so many other conifers, constantly soggy or wet soils can be problematic, leading to root rot or other harmful plant diseases. So make sure to plant this one in well-drained soil, whether in the ground or in pots. Once established, water needs are lower when growing in the ground. In pots, soil moisture will need to be monitored more closely, especially during summer. When the top two inches of soil is dry, provide water.

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