Cooks Blue Balsam Fir vs Pacific Silver Fir

Cooks Blue Balsam Fir is a blue tinged selection of Balsam Fir. Preferring slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, this beautiful tree is loved among Christmas tree growers due to its striking color and pyramidal shape.

As Cooks Blue Balsam Fir matures, you'll notice that the color of the needles will intensify. Keep in mind this selection was grown from seed and the needles can vary in color from shades of green to blue. Nitrogen rich soil helps the needles retain their vibrant color.

Please be aware that this variety does not do well in intense heat, drying winds, or seasonal drought.

Pacific Silver Fir is a tall evergreen tree native to the Pacific Northwest. It has two-toned needles, dark green on top with silvery undersides, giving the tree a distinctive appearance. The straight trunk and dense, symmetrical crown make it a striking forest species.

Pacific Silver Fir thrives in cool, moist, high-elevation forests. It is the most shade-tolerant of the true firs and among the most shade-tolerant of all native conifers, allowing it to grow beneath the canopy of older trees. It provides cover for wildlife and food from its seeds, while also contributing to the structure and stability of mountain forest ecosystems.

The species is harvested for timber and pulp and has been used ornamentally in some plantings. Well-suited for ecological restoration, naturalization, and habitat projects where native conifers are needed. Pacific Silver Fir lives up to its Latin name, amabilis, meaning “lovely,” in recognition of its striking appearance.

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