Wells Victoria Dwarf White Fir

Wells Victoria is listed by Wells Nursery as a compact blue-foliaged selection of white fir (*Abies concolor*). It offers evergreen structure at a smaller scale than the species, though published mature-size information for this particular selection is limited. ## Landscape use Use this dwarf fir as a focal conifer in a rock garden, courtyard, or mixed evergreen bed where a full-size white fir would overwhelm the space. One cultivar-specific profile estimates **4–6 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide**; Wells Nursery confirms the named selection in its wholesale availability list but does not provide dimensions there. Treat the size range as a planning estimate, since growth and ultimate proportions vary with age and site. ## Growing conditions White fir is adapted to cool, mountain climates. Utah State University describes the species as preferring moist, cool, protected locations, tolerating shade, and needing shelter from exposed valley winds; its listed hardiness range is USDA Zones 3–7. A Utah State arboretum listing gives full sun to partial shade, low water use, and warns against wet soil. The university’s native-plant guide lists sand and loam among suitable soils and acidic conditions as preferred. Keep the root zone evenly moist while the plant establishes, then water during extended dry spells. Utah State classifies white fir as medium in drought tolerance, so it can handle some dryness once established but is not a desert-adapted conifer. Avoid saline or coastal sites because no reliable salt-tolerance evidence was found. ## Cultivar background Wells Nursery’s current wholesale list names “concolor glauca compacta Wells ‘Victoria’,” which verifies the selection’s presence in its trade offering. That listing supports Wells as a trade source; it does not establish that Wells originated or bred the cultivar. The references reviewed did not identify a breeder or patent record, so patent status remains undetermined. ## Sources - Cultivar availability: [Wells Nursery](https://wellsnurseries.com/wholesale-main/availability/). - Species identity, foliage, exposure, hardiness, and protected-site guidance: [Utah State University Extension](https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/tree-identification/true-firs/white-fir). - Species size, water use, and wet-soil caution: [USU Varga Arboretum](https://extension.usu.edu/botanicalcenter/trees-of-varga-arboretum/white-fir). - Soil suitability: [USU Native Plant Species Finder](https://extension.usu.edu/ecorestore/assessment-tool?plant=95). - Drought category: [USU TreeBrowser](https://extension.usu.edu/treebrowser/catalog/index-drought-medium). - Cultivar-specific size estimate: [Neighborbrite](https://app.neighborbrite.com/plants/abies_concolor_glauca_compacta_cv_wells_victoria--dwarf-white-fir-wells-victoria). ## Maintenance Little shaping should be needed; preserve the natural compact outline. Keep the soil moist during establishment, provide supplemental water during prolonged drought, and ensure drainage so roots do not remain waterlogged. Choose a sheltered site, especially in windy inland valleys.