Abies procera ‘Glauca Prostrata’ (Prostrate noble fir)

This cultivated variety of noble fir is not found in the wild. It prefers direct sun and cooler climates. Its natural progenitor is native to the Cascade Range and Pacific Coast Ranges of the northwestern United States. It occurs at altitudes of 300–1,500 meters (980–4,920 ft). At up to 262′ (80 m) tall, the natural variety are the tallest of the true firs.

Plants: While the natual variety of noble fir is an upright conifer, this version is low and spreading, more like a juniper, designed for landscaping. It is evergreen, 1–3′ tall ⨉ 5–8′ around (30–91 cm ⨉ 1.5–2.4 m), spreading horizontally, and bluer in color than its natural progenitor. Bark on young trees is gray and smooth, with resin blisters. On older trees, it is red-brown, fissured, and rough.

Leaves: Needles are ⅜–1 ⨉ 1/32–1/16″ (1–3 cm ⨉ 1.5–2 mm), 1-ranked, soft and flexible. The base of each needle often lies flat against the twig. Needles are flat in cross-section, with a prominent raised midrib. They smell a bit like turpentine.

Fruits: Pollen cones at pollination are purplish, reddish, or reddish brown. Seed cones are oblong-cylindric, 4–6 ⨉ 1¾–2½″ (10–15 ⨉ 5–6.5 cm), green, red, or purple. Each cone is sessile, and matures to brown, with light-colored bracts and dark scales. Scales are ⅞ ⨉ 1″ (2.5 ⨉ 3 cm), and hairy. Seeds are ⅜ ⨉ ⅛″ (1.2 cm ⨉ 6 mm), and light brown to straw-colored.

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Coniferophyta	Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs)
Class	Pinopsida	Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews
Order	Pinales	Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others
Family	Pinaceae	Pine family: cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines and spruces
Genus	Abies	Latin name for silver fir
Species	procera

About plant names...

Abies procera ‘Glauca Prostrata’ description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.