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Flora

Rocky
Mountain
Fir

Rocky Mountain Fir

Abies lasiocarpa

Type: Coniferous – Evergreen tree with needles and cones

Bark: The bark of the Rocky Mountain Fir is gray and smooth when young. The bark becomes scaly and more rough as the tree ages. 

Leaves: The needles are dark blue-green and are around an inch long. They have a blunt tip. 

Elevations: 8,000 to 12,000 feet

Height: 60-100 ft

 

Habitat
The Rocky Mountain spruce is found in high elevation forests of western North America, often immediately below tree line. The tree is very shade tolerant and the branches are built to collect snow to protect the tree from wind and heat.

Fun Fact

  • The Rocky Mountain Fir can reproduce by “layering”, a process where tree branches that touch the ground form roots and then create new trees. This can lead to an incredible natural phenomena where a ring of trees is created in the wild.