Abies procera Noble Fir

Noble Fir is native to the forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America from Washington state to Califonia, where it can grow to be a very large tree. It is, in fact, the tallest of the world's fir trees. It is very tolerant of dry, exposed habitats and in its native range it is a pioneer species that clonises ground after fire disturbance. Its bluntly pointed needles are distinctly curled, unlike those of European Silver Fir (Abies alba) and they have a blue-grey appearance, particularly underneath where there are prominant pale, stripes or bands. Large, barrel-shaped female cones are produced at the top of the tree and break up there at maturity, so they do not fall to the ground intact unless they are blown off in stormy weather. Noble Fir was discovered by David Douglas on one of his epic collecting trips and introduced to Britain in 1831. It is grown in British plantations, particularly in the north and west, but it is not a prominent feature of forestry in south Wales. It doesn't appear to regenerate significantly from seed in West Glamorgan and is rarely found naturalised. Noble Fir can be confused with European Silver Fir and both are found occasionally in conifer plantations in West Glamorgan. Noble Fir trees can be viewed in the small arboretum near Rhyslyn in Afan Forest Park.