Woody > Abies > Abies concolor > Abies concolor 'Candicans'
Abies concolor
'Candicans'
Origin: Origin: Originating at the Arboretum national des Barres, located in Nogent-sur-Vernisson, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France; which is now planned for closing. ‘Candicans’ is a clone of A. concolor f. Argentia which made its first appearance in 1929 in the arboretum but was not common in the North American economy until 1965.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Although not terribly different from its straight species counterpart, ‘Candicans’ is a lovely multi-purpose hardy evergreen with a very unique colour. It could potentially be an excellent first tree for a gardener, as they require very little pruning. There isn't much this tree doesn't have when it comes to the landscape -- and for this reason, I believe it is an A+ plant!
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Pinaceae |
| Genus |
| Abies |
| Species |
| concolor |
| Cultivar |
| 'Candicans' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4a - 7b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2a - 7a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H5- H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-32) - (-15) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-25) - 10 |
| Height |
| 4.5 m |
| Spread |
| 3 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Abies concolor ‘Candicans’ is a woody evergreen tree with silvery white bark, blueish-white needles, and a sought-after pyramidal form. |
| Landscape |
| Used very commonly as a windbreak and screening plant (Note it only accomplishes these tasks properly when older, as the tree is quite thin when very young) but it also is sometimes sold as a Christmas tree. It may be an ideal plant for the ‘lazy’ gardener, as its natural growing pyramidal form allows it to grow into a desired shape with very little, or in some cases, no pruning. Its smooth grey bark in addition to its very colourful needles make it an excellent specimen plant. |
| Cultivation |
| It flourishes in deep, nutrient-rich, well-drained soils while avoiding heavy clay and very wet areas. It prefers having a pH range of 4.5 to 7.0 in full sun. Because of its thinner scraggly form during its youth, it's best to shield it from harsh winds for the first couple of years of its life. |
| Shape |
| When first planted it is a thin-looking scrawny tree, but quickly over time grows very full and pyramidal -- even more so than straight species. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| Differentiating from straight species Abies concolor, ‘Candicans’ has a more pyramidal form as well as lighter shaded needles. It stands out as more white than silver when looked at closely. A third, albeit odd way of identifying the tree is through its form when young. It appears less dense than Abies concolor straight species when young, but more so as it grows with age. |
| Pests |
| None of the utmost serious concern, as they are generally very hardy when it comes to pests. The most common pests are scale and red spider mites when in hotter regions. Sometimes can come under fire from aphids and canker disease. |
| Habitat |
| Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark is grey, turning white in some cases, with broad flat ridges on some of the older trees. Bark can be mostly considered smooth when it is young, but as stated before it gets more ridged with age, much like a person does. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Large broadly conical whorls, which are resinous and hide the scales of the bud. Always found in large groups that are light brown when young but grow dark brown when older. |
| Leaf Description |
| Soft, individually arranged, flat needles that grow upwards. They are light blue coloured -- the main driving point of the cultivar. Needles are generally 1½ to 2 inches long and 1/10 to 1/12 inch wide. Lines of a paler blue appear underneath the fascicle. |
| Flower Description |
| Abies concolor ‘Candicans’ is a monoecious strobili flowering tree. Male flowers are dark red while the female flowers are a dull boring green. |
| Fruit Description |
| 3 to 6 inches long, mostly cylindrical stalked cones. They do not attract any significant form of wildlife, and start as a unique dark purple colour, becoming a more vanilla brown colour with age. The seeds are a nasty yellow colour with no significant qualities. |
| Colour Description |
| While ‘Candicans’ has a slightly greener hue to its needles during the summer and spring hot seasons, it retains its famous greyish-blue colour for the majority of the year in Canada. The bark is white or grey with darker black ridges. The underside of the needles has a different shade of blue which stays persistent throughout the year. |
| Texture Description |
| The bark of the plant is fairly smooth and soft, this goes the same for its needles which almost feel like plastic. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Corvallis, Oregon State, United States. Oregon State University main campus: southwest side of Milam Hall. Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Located in the outdoor conifer garden, this ‘Candicans’ stuck out to me in a sea of green foliage. It was vastly taller and far more beautiful than everything around it. |
| Propagation |
| Abies concolor ‘Candicans’ is a slow-growing tree that should be planted in the spring. It should be planted in the spring, because you should only prune and remove dead matter when it is completely dry (Although not usually needed). It can be propagated by seed or by grafting, if grafted it should be done in the early spring. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| As the name suggests ‘Candicans’ is a growing competitor on the Christmas tree market, not only that but it also attracts birds to its lush thick canopy and makes an excellent home for the flying creatures. It is also easily processed and makes good construction wood, especially because of its resistance to pests, making it a useful lumber wood. Abies concolor also make for good essential oils and are used in many fragrances and herbal mists. Sometimes used as a long-lasting firewood. |
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