Abies magnifica var. magnifica

California red fir

Family: Pinaceae · Type: shrub · Native

California red fir is a California native tree found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern California Ranges, Sierra Nevada Highlands, and Sierra Nevada Eastern regions in mixed-conifer to subalpine forests at elevations of 1,200 to 2,600 meters. Although no specific flowering time is noted, this conifer is characterized by distinctive seed cones 14 to 23 centimeters long and 6 to 9 centimeters wide. Growing as a tall, majestic evergreen with a pyramidal form, the tree develops a substantial trunk and dense branching pattern. Its needles are typically dark green, arranged in dense clusters around the branches, creating a thick and textured appearance. The tree's remarkable feature is its seed production, with young trees developing cotyledons that range from 6 to 13 in number, signaling its robust reproductive potential.

Habitat: Mixed-conifer to subalpine forests

Elevation: 1200-2600 m

Bioregions: KR, NCoRH, CaRH, SNH, SNE

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