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Abies amabilis

Beautiful Silver-fir · Cascade Fir · Lovley Fir

Family PinaceaeGenus Abies

A young fir with tiered branches of short blue-green needles, carrying one upright barrel-shaped cone, against a forested hillside.
FruitWalter SiegmundCC BY 2.5

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
98-260 ft30-79 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
20-30 ft6.1-9.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
YellowPLANTS Database
Blooms
Late SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Alaska, British Columbia, California, Oregon, WashingtonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
5Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Note
Temperate rainforestNotes from web searches

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Organic matter
ModerateNotes from web searches
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility; Notes from web searches — Amir Abed.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 21 days.

33% germination in 7–21 days.

Deno does not know why germination in this genus is so low.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abies p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Abies (Pinaceae). The cause of the low germinations is not known. A. amabilis germ. 70(2/11 in 2-5 w)-40-70-40 and 40-70(4/12 in 1-3 w)-40-70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abies p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 35 days.

18% germination in 14–35 days.

Deno does not know why germination in this genus is so low.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Abies p. 82Public domain
Show the original text
Abies (Pinaceae). The cause of the low germinations is not known. A. amabilis germ. 70(2/11 in 2-5 w)-40-70-40 and 40-70(4/12 in 1-3 w)-40-70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Abies p. 82. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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