Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa

Subalpine fir, Subalpine Fir, subalpine fir, subalpine fir

Family: Pinaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

Subalpine fir is a California native conifer found in western Siskiyou County's subalpine forests and meadows at elevations of 1,700 to 2,100 meters. While its flowering time is not specified, this tree produces distinctive narrow, steeple-like crowns with gray bark up to 5 centimeters thick. Growing to heights less than 30 meters with trunks under 1.3 meters wide, it features hairy twigs that remain furry for several years. Its needles are less than 3 centimeters long, relatively flat, with white bands on the upper surface and typically notched or blunt tips. The tree produces seed cones less than 10 centimeters long with enclosed bracts, creating a characteristic conical silhouette in high-elevation mountain landscapes.

Habitat: Subalpine forests, meadows

Elevation: 1700-2100 m

Bioregions: KR (w Siskiyou Co., 6 populations)

California counties: Siskiyou

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.