Abies bracteata
Santa Lucia fir · also Bristlecone fir, Silver fir
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This conifer is North America's rarest fir, confined to steep slopes and rocky canyons in California's Santa Lucia Mountains. It features finely dissected, vibrant green leaves that transition to stunning fall colors, with graceful, arching branches providing light dappled shade. Its compact size and preference for well-drained, partially shaded soils make it suitable for urban landscapes.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 260.01%—10 in
No city in this list records planting dates for this species, so age is blank throughout.
Traits
- Form
- Conifer
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 50–80 ft
- Canopy spread
- 15–20 ft
- Sun
- Part shade
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Wildlife value
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 10 in, mean 10 in, 90th percentile 13 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands & Scrub
- Santa Lucia Montane Chaparral & Woodlands
Other Abies in the catalogue
20 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
