White Fir : Overview

Abies concolor

BY Taylor Brough

White fir trees are a species of evergreen trees that are today frequently used as Christmas trees due to their soft needles and cone shape. They are not native to Vermont, but two white fir trees have been planted on the UVM campus near the Fleming Museum. When I first encountered these trees, I was extremely perplexed. I was born in Denver and, as a frequent hiker and camper, I am used to seeing Abies concolor in the Rocky Mountains. The presence of them in Vermont was certainly confusing, and I struggled to try to relate them to my experiences of fir trees in Colorado. Unable to do so, the following research is an in-depth study of white fir trees, including their relationship to my experiences. Enjoy!