Abies lasiocarpa 'Glauca Compacta' (Compact Rocky Mountain Fir)
Michael's Opinion
A class plant for the small landscape, or used as a detail specimen in the larger landscape. Slow growing but very reliable and care free it is a plant that sees little use but should be used more.
Botanical Information
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Genus | Abies |
| Species | lasiocarpa |
| Cultivar | 'Glauca Compacta' |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 5 - 6(7) |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 5 |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H7 - H6 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -29 - (-23) |
| Temperature (°F) | -20 - (-10) |
| Height | 2.5 m |
| Spread | 1 m |
| Growth | Slow |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A very compact, tidy conifer with tight blue foliage in a pyramidal arrangement. |
| ID Characteristic | Dense, compact habit and deep blue tinge to the foliage. |
| Shape | Densely pyramidal form. |
| Landscape | As a substitute for the larger blue spruce in the small garden. Also as an accent or specimen plant in the rock garden or small landscape. |
| Propagation | Generally grafted onto Abies concolor understock. |
| Cultivation | Easy to grow and I have had success with it on both light and heavy soils as long as drainage is positive and there is sufficient moisture to see it through a summer drought. It should be planted in full sun to realize the full effect of the foliage colour. Firs prefer moist, cool, acid soil, and full sun. Polluted city air hinders growth. Though firs do not require pruning, you can tip back branch ends to promote denser growth. Even large trees are transplantable. |
| Pests | None of note. |
| Notable Specimens | Rayner Gardens, London, Ontario, Canada. The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Light grey, although seldom visible because of the dense, compact foliage hiding the bark. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Often in threes, pale beige. |
| Leaf Description | Needles, covered in a light blue film (bloom) that can be rubbed off. |
| Flower Description | Insignificant. |
| Fruit Description | The cones although rare are very attractive and held upright on the branches, upwards of 8 cm in length, often resinous. |
| Colour Description | A deep, consistent, pale steel blue. |
| Texture Description | Appearing fine textured from a distance because of the foliage density. |
Photographs
Pictured at Rayner Gardens, London, Ontario, Canada.
A plant in the authors garden, Strahroy, Ontario, Canada.
