Blue Select White Fir

Blue Select White Fir is an evergreen conifer selected for its intense powder-blue needles and upright, pyramidal outline. It adds year-round color as a specimen tree and can screen views where there is room for a large evergreen. Published size estimates differ, so allow generous space and treat catalog dimensions as an approximate range. ## Form and landscape use Purdue Arboretum highlights the cultivar’s upright blue needles and notes that white fir is better adapted to hot, dry summers than many other firs. Gertens lists a height of 20–30 feet and spread of 10–20 feet, while Bountiful Farms lists about 45 feet tall by 20 feet wide. Differences may reflect growing conditions and how mature size is reported. For design, reserve roughly 20–45 feet of height and 10–30 feet of width. Use it as a specimen or a roomy evergreen screen rather than beside a small foundation. ## Growing conditions Choose full sun where possible; Purdue lists full sun to partial shade. Plant in well-drained soil and avoid sites that remain waterlogged. Gertens lists USDA Zones 4–7; check local nursery guidance near the colder or warmer limits. Purdue describes white fir as comparatively well adapted to hot, dry summers, but newly planted trees still need regular water while roots establish, and prolonged drought can stress them. ## Cultivar background ‘Blue Select’ is a named ornamental selection sold by commercial nurseries. The references reviewed here do not identify a confirmed breeder or brand owner, and I found no patent citation for this cultivar. The Oregon Association of Nurseries’ listing connects the cultivar with Bountiful Farms as a grower; that listing does not establish original breeder status. ## Sources - [Purdue Arboretum: Blue Select White Fir](https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plant_special_chars/sm/) — cultivar appearance and white fir’s relative adaptation to hot, dry summers. - [Purdue Arboretum: light requirements](https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plant_light_requirement/psu/) — full sun to partial shade listing. - [Gertens 2023 Wholesale Catalog](https://www.gertens.com/downloads/2023WholesaleCatalog_Online_LR.pdf) — zones, form, color, and one mature-size estimate. - [Bountiful Farms 2025–26 Reference Guide](https://www.bountiful-farms.com/pdf/2025%20Reference%20Guide.pdf) — form, color, and a larger mature-size estimate. - [Oregon Association of Nurseries Nursery Guide](https://nurseryguide.com/plants/abies-concolor-blue-select-1360/) — nursery listing and grower information. ## Maintenance Little routine pruning is needed to keep the natural pyramidal form. Remove dead or damaged branches when necessary, retain the central leader, water during establishment and extended dry spells, and avoid poorly drained sites. Its relative tolerance of hot, dry summers makes it more adaptable than many firs, but it is not a no-water choice for a dry landscape.