🌳Tree of the Month for December 2025

Howdy, Park goers!

It’s time for the December Tree of the Month! For December, we’re highlighting one of my favorite evergreens: Abies concolor, commonly known as White Fir.

Abies concolor is a needled evergreen native to the mountain slopes of the western United States and Mexico, including portions of the Cascades and Sierras from Oregon to southern California, as well as the Rockies from southern Idaho to Arizona and New Mexico. In its native habitat—typically at elevations of 3,000–9,000 feet—white fir can reach impressive heights of 80–130 feet. In midwestern and urban landscapes, it generally matures at 40–70 feet tall with a 20–30 foot canopy spread.

White firs have a narrow, conical form with upward-growing branches near the top and reclining lower limbs that flatten with age. Their soft, flattened needles are about 2.5 inches long and display a beautiful pale blue-green color. The slightly barrel-shaped cones measure 3–6 inches, emerging yellowish-green before maturing to brown or purple. A signature trait of firs: the cones stand upright on the branches rather than hanging downward like those of spruce or pine. These trees can also take 40 years or more to begin producing cones and seed.

Although many conifers struggle with the St. Louis region’s hot and humid summers, white fir is one of the most successful conifers for the Midwest and is commonly planted in parks—and even on Christmas tree farms. Several specimens thrive throughout the Tower Grove Park arboretum, where their bluish-green needles bring a striking contrast to the snowy winter landscape.