Because of their strong scent and attractive shape, fir trees are popular as Christmas trees. They are also a valuable source of lumber for buildings and pulp for paper. Although many trees are called firs, the only true firs are the trees that have been placed in the genus, or group, Abies by plant scientists. The Douglas fir, for example, belongs to the genus Pseudotsuga and is therefore not a true fir. However, the true firs and the Douglas firs are all members of the pine family.

Where firs grow

There are more than 40 species, or types, of true firs. They grow in moist, cool areas of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. In North America many firs grow in mountainous regions of the West. These include the white fir, the noble fir, the California red fir, and the Pacific silver fir. The balsam fir is found in Canada and the northern forests of the central and eastern United States, while the southern Balsam, or Fraser, fir grows only in the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Physical features

The true firs have needlelike leaves that grow directly from the branch. The needles' bases, which are shaped like suction cups, leave circular scars when the leaves fall. The needles are various shades of green, from bright green to blue-green, on the top and whitish or silvery green on the underside. Fir needles are flat and usually have rounded tips.

The cones of the fir grow on the highest parts of the tree and stand upright on the branches like candles. The colors of fir cones may be purple, brown, olive green, or light green. Rarely does an entire cone fall from the tree. Instead, after the seeds ripen they lose a few of their fan-shaped scales and seeds at a time. When the scales and seeds are gone, a woody spike remains standing on the branch.

Fir trees range greatly in height. The smallest types reach a height of about 17 feet (5 meters) while the tallest, including the white, the noble, the California red, and the Pacific silver, can grow to more than 200 feet (60 meters) in height.