tree ID!

[clearblue16]

in my yard in Seattle, at least 150 feet tall.....big upright cones that fall apart into little shields that fall down....cones never fall intact....long branches that hang way down....grey stripes on bottom of needle....a fir of some kind I guess....thoughts?  Thanks

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

[Texas Ranger]

not a pro on NW species, but, looks like balsam fir

[Magicman]

It's the very elusive Horizontal Tree.   ;D

[Ocklawahaboy]

It's the very elusive Horizontal Tree.   ;D

What else would you plant by a horizontal house but a horizontal tree?

[Magicman]

I overlooked adding my Welcome to the Forestry Forum, clearblue16.   8)

[wdmn]

Given your description of the cones it's a fir, but I don't know how common it is to grow balsam fir (Abies balsamea) as an ornamental out in those parts, but it's not its native range. You've got your own firs from what I understand, but I don't know how often you use those as ornamentals either... I think they all have the double stripe on the underside of the needles.

welcome to the forum.

[sandhills]

I'm not much help with your tree but welcome to the forum clearblue 16, you have some beautiful country up there.

[WDH]

There are 4 native firs in the NW.  Pacific Silver Fir, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, and Subalpine Fir.  I believe that we can rule out Subalpine Fir.

The bark of Grand Fir and Noble Fir on mature trees develop ridges.  Pacific Silver Fir has smoother, light gray bark.  From the bark pic, I am almost positive that what you have is Pacific Silver Fir.

[Clark]

Pacific silver fir would be my best guess but without seeing it in person Noble fir is still a contender. Field ID of these two species can be very difficult at times.

Of course, there are several non-native fir species that are commonly planted in the PNW. I never did learn those all that well while I was out there and because of that wouldn't rule them out at this point but would lean heavily towards silver or noble.

Clark

[The_Real_Luke_Skywalker]

The tree from the photo seems more like 80 feet than 150 feet.

Noble have hockey stick curves where needles attach if you look upside down.

Does not look like a Grand.

How about a Nordmann Fir? I'm not sure, just throwing that one out.

...

[The_Real_Luke_Skywalker]

 This is the end of a Nordmann Fir branch.

Some similarity. A very tidy looking twig.

[Magicman]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, The_Real_Luke_. 

That is a very nice picture.