20 Different Types of Fir Trees
In certain parts of the world, fir trees are so common that they become synonymous with the countries they’re mostly found in. North America especially is known for its fir trees, particularly in the western and northern parts of the United States and even in Mexico and Canada. Fir trees are known for their exceptional size, as well as the fact that they’re frequently used as ornamental trees around Christmastime.
Firs can be mistaken for pine trees, as they share similar leaves that resemble needles. There is a slight difference between the two, with fir trees having flatter leaves. These scenic trees are beloved around the world, and the next time you see one, you might want to know what type it is. Here are 20 different types of fir trees to be on the lookout for.
1. Korean Fir
The list starts off with the Abies Koreana, or Korean Fir, as it’s more commonly known. This tree grows exclusively in South Korea, particularly at its highest altitudes. The Korean Fir is among the smaller fir trees on the list, growing at heights of around 30 feet on the low end and 60 feet at its peak. A lot of the Korean Firs are located more than one mile above sea level, with a minimum of around 3,500 feet above sea level. The Korean Fir is a beautiful tree, therefore it has been used as decoration to the point where it has a threatened conservation status.
2. Subalpine Fir
Many of the trees that you’ll see on the list are located within mountain ranges, and the Subalpine Fir is no exception. This tree grows along the range of the Rockie Mountains between the United States and Canada, reaching heights of up to 160 feet tall in its rarest peaks. There are different types of subspecies of the Subalpine Fir depending on the latitude, with some of the rarer types even found in northern Mexico.
3. Abies Holophylla
There are many different names for Abies Holophylla, including the Manchurian Fir due to its high population in northeast Asia. More specifically, this tree grows in Korea and parts of China, reaching up to 100 feet tall. There aren’t many uses for the Abies Holophylla outside of decoration and thus aren’t considered to be a threatened species of tree.
4. Abies Homolepis
Not too far from the Abies Holophylla, you’ll find the Abies Homolepis, a.k.a. the Nikko Fir. This tree is located only in Japan, which the country uses for some construction. This tree is extremely resilient, especially against precipitation and air pollution. Growing in the mountains, the Nikko Fir can grow to be quite tall, extending more than 130 feet.
5. Abies Veitchii
Sticking in Japan, you’ll also find the Abies Veitchii, which is located in Shikoku and Honshu. These fir trees don’t need as much elevation as the Abies Homolepis, and tend to grow to be around the same height. The tree is named after British horticulturist John Gould Veitch, who spent a lot of time studying in Japan. With its smooth and soft bark, the Abies Veitchii gets a lot more usage construction-wise.
6. Abies Alba
One of the fir trees on the list that’s not confined to just one particular country, the Abies Alba (meaning bright) grows throughout most of Europe in the mountainous areas. From the southern tip of Italy and into the Nordic countries, the Abies Alba has a massive population and averages about 150 feet in height. These trees have become synonymous with all of Europe due to their use as Christmas trees for a lot of families.
7. Grand Fir
There are more than a half dozen different names for this tree, but we’ll stick with the Grand Fir for now. This softwood tree is located in a couple of different regions of the Pacific Northwest. One subspecies is located mainly in Idaho and is therefore named the Idahoensis. The other is located along the Pacific coast in parts of Washington, Oregon, and California, where it is named Grandis, with these trees frequently growing over 200 feet tall.
8. Abies Firma
Another entry from Japan, the Abies Firma is a low-altitude fir tree that typically reaches heights of around 150 feet. This species is found more commonly in the southern part of the country and is able to handle hot climates. The Abies Firma has high population numbers, making it a commonly seen tree in Japan.
9. Abies Cilicica
Found exclusively along the Red Sea in the countries of Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria, the Abies Cilicica is also known as the Taurus Fir. The reason for the alternative name is because of the tree’s abundance in the Taurus Mountains. These trees grew far and wide at one point, but have been reduced in numbers due to logging and fires. Still, Abies Cilicica remains strong and has been used in a number of medicines over the years.
10. Abies Beshanzuens
One of the few types of fir trees found in China, the Abies Beshanzuensis is also one of the most recently discovered trees, having been found for the first time in 1963. Also known as the Baishanzu Fir, this tree is found in the Zhejiang province, and is under severe threat to its population. These trees grow to an average of 50 feet in height but are in critical condition. At its lowest point, the Abies Beshanzuens only had a population of three trees. While that number has gone up over the years, it’s still not enough to keep this species out of the critically endangered territory.
11. Balsam Fir
The Balsam Fir is one of the most common Fir trees in North America and particularly in Canada. The Balsam Fir range spreads from the Atlantic coast all the way into Alberta and dips south into the United States into mid-Michigan. Also known as the Abies Balsamea, the Balsam Fir isn’t a massive tree with average heights ranging between 50 to 90 feet. There’s certainly no shortage of these trees as they are able to reproduce easily, though that’s not the case in Connecticut where it’s endangered. The Balsam Fir is known for its uses in medicine and furniture.
12. Noble Fir
Heading to the Pacific Northwest, you’ll find the Noble Fir, mostly inland in the state of Washington, Oregon, and the northernmost part of California. The Nobile Fir is known scientifically as the Abies Procera, with the latter part of its name translating into English simply as “tall.” It’s a very fitting name, too, as the Noble Fir is the tallest fir tree in the world. There have been several uses for the Noble Fir throughout time, including being used in medicine, construction, paper, and much more.
13. White Fir
There are two different types of subspecies of the White Fir, with the Concolor type growing in the four-corner region of the United States (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona) as well as a very small portion of northern Mexico. The Iowiana type of tree grows mostly inland in California’s northern region. Officially known as the Abies Concolor, the White Fir is commonly used as a Christmas tree. These trees have a long lifespan and were first studied by Augustus Fendler in New Mexico, and has become one of the more recognizable fir trees in the United States ever since.
14. Abies Pinsapo
The Albies pinsapo can be very hard to find, as there are only two very small regions where this tree grows. These regions are on the very southern tip of Spain and the northern tip of Morocco in the Rif mountains. Also known as the Spanish Fir, this tree can grow to between 60 and 100 feet. The Abies Pinsapo has been prone to a reduction in numbers because of land development and general human disruption. There have been many campaigns to help repopulate the Abies Pinsapo, though most haven’t been able to keep the numbers up.
15. Fraser Fir
The Fraser Fir is found in the Appalachian Mountain range, though it doesn’t span the entire mountains. Instead, the Fraser Fir is located on the North Carolina and Tennessee border as well as the southwestern part of Virginia. This tree is not named after an American, but rather after a botanist from Scotland, John Fraser. Fraser has traveled the world to collect plants, becoming the most famous botanist of his time. The Fraser Fir is one of the smaller trees on the list, reaching a maximum height of 50 feet in the normal range. Unfortunately, these trees are endangered, having been placed on the threatened list.
16. Red Fir
Just like the Iowiana type of White Fir, the Red Fir grows mostly toward the California-Nevada border, as well as the southernmost parts of Oregon. The Red Fir stretches a bit further south, though, extending to the southern half of California. Named for its bark color, the Red Fir grows in higher elevations and is very abundant in its range. Many Red Firs end up growing to 150 feet or taller, making them a favorite spot for tourists to stop and take pictures. One of the more popular places you’ll find the Red Fir is at the Giant Sequoia National Monument in the Sierra Nevada.
17. Nordmann Fir
Situated along the Black Sea and found in countries that include Georgia and Turkey, the Nordmann Fir is a mountainous tree with its subspecies located across the Caucasus and Pontic Mountains. This tree, which is also known as the Abies nordmanniana, is named after zoologist Alexander von Nordmann. A botanist, Christian von Steven, named the tree after him in the 19th century thanks to Nordmann’s work in Ukraine. If the Nordmann Fir looks familiar, it’s because it’s commonly used as a Christmas tree. With a trunk that can reach a diameter of up to six feet, these trees can surprisingly grow as high as 280 feet.
18. Abies Pindrow
Another mountainous tree, the Abies Pindrow is found along the Himalayan Mountains, spreading across the countries of Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Afghanistan. As a result, another name for this tree is the Himalayan Fir, though its scientific name is a nod to what the tree is known as in the Nepalese language. The Abies Pindrow is a massive one. Growing up to 200 feet tall, the Abies Pindrow can also be about eight feet thick. This is an abundant species of tree, and as such, is not threatened due to low usage as lumber.
19. Abies Kawakamii
One of the few fir trees on the list that you’ll find in east Asia is the Abies Kawakamii, which is found only in the island country of Taiwan. This makes the Abies Kawakamii one of the southernmost fir trees in the world. The Abies Kawakamii was originally thought to be a variant of a Japanese fir known as the Abies Mariesii when it was first written about in the early 20th century. This tree grows in higher altitudes, is not considered to be threatened and grows to about 80-90 feet in height.
20. Abies Guatemalensi
The final fir tree on the list is the Abies Guatemalensi, which as you may have been able to guess, is found in Guatemala, but is not exclusive to the country. The Abies Guatemalensis also grows in parts of Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. This tree is also known as the Pinabete, and absorbs moisture almost as much as any other fir tree. Growing up to 115-130 feet in height, the Abies Guatemalensi is, unfortunately, in a threatened status due to the high amount of logging and shrinking habitat. In its namesake of Guatemala, this tree is less threatened.
