What soil does White fir grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, acidic.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should White fir be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

How much water does White fir need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does White fir cost?

It sells for roughly €29 to €68 in local shops, depending on size.

White fir

Abies concolor

White fir (Abies concolor) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €29.

Illustration of White fir — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

You can tell it by its long, soft, upcurved blue-grey needles, which smell of citrus when crushed. It takes heat and drought better than any other fir, which makes it the most dependable fir for continental, lowland gardens, but in time it becomes a large tree: 10 to 20, in a good spot up to 25 metres tall and 5 to 10 metres wide, so it belongs in a spacious garden as a specimen or screen, and for a small space choose its blue-needled dwarf forms (Compacta, Archer's Dwarf), which reach only about 1 metre in ten years. It colours best in full sun and grows in almost any well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil, but it does not stand heavy, waterlogged clay or strongly limy soil.

Watch out for

It has no serious pest or disease, and most trouble comes from unsuitable soil: in heavy, airless, waterlogged clay it dies of root rot, and on strongly limy soil it turns yellow. Late spring frost can scorch the new shoots, and after a long summer drought the leading bud may flush a second time, a shoot that often freezes in winter and leaves a young tree with a misshapen top. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe spider mites, and also adelgids and aphids, can appear on it, and weakened trees may get needle rust and twig blight. It tolerates drought well only once established, so water it in the first two or three years after planting and in prolonged drought; strong wind can break branches of tall, old trees.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 1.8 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 1.8 m
Ultimate size	9–25 m × 4.5–12 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €29

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €29 – €68

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Plants for screening Evergreen plants Fragrant plants

Looks good next to it

Rockspray cotoneaster

Cotoneaster horizontalis

David viburnum

Viburnum davidii

Japanese maple

Acer palmatum